Of the different imaging methods, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides immense value in enabling the provision of high levels of resolution images. The technology entails the use of powerful magnets to get results because of which metal objects have to be removed from the vicinity. Exposure to the powerful magnetic fields gives a stimulus to the vestibular system. Scanning with MRI is an expensive process and the subject is required to remain without any motion for a considerable long time period.
But the advantages of MRI far outweigh the disadvantages in enabling diagnosis of the ailments for further effective medical treatment. MRI enables superior contrast resolution, superior tissue characterization, and superior multiplanar capabilities. It does not entail exposure to ionizing radiation and the intravenous contrast agents are much safer. However, MRI is expensive and takes prolonged imaging times in being sensitive to motion artifacts. Since many combinations of technical artifacts are possible, some patients cannot be examined and it becomes difficult to examine patients during the study.
EEG (Electroencephalogram) refers to the measurement of electrical activities that the brain produces as recorded by electrodes that are placed over the skull because the electrical activities in the brain can be depicted on comparatively smaller to comparatively larger scales. Recordings via the EEG measure activities of the cells instead of single neurons. This technique, which records activities of multiple cells, differentiates the distortion in relationships between brain activities and other field potentials.
It enables researchers to link the activities of cortical sensory neurons that are traced by way of scalp electrodes, with the stimulus from the participant. The simultaneous use of MRI and EEG offers a lot of advantages to researchers in diagnosing ailments and treating them effectively. But EEG has some limitations in that there is a very weak spatial resolution with the system. It is very sensitive to some postsynaptic potentials that are created on the outward layers of the cortex directly adjoining the skull and its radial.