BRAIN MAPPING IN NEUROSURGERY

Background and Aim: Brain mapping is a study of the anatomy and function of the CNS (central nervous system). Brain mapping has many techniques and these techniques are permanently changing and updating. From the beginning, brain mapping was invasive and for brain mapping, electrical stimulation of the exposed brain was needed. However, nowadays brain mapping does not require electrical stimulation and often does not require any complex involvement of patients. For taking brain mapping functional and structural neuroimaging have an essential obligatory role. There are two types of techniques for brain mapping: noninvasive techniques[structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion MRI (dMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), electroencephalography (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and other non-invasive scanning techniques]and invasive techniques [direct cortical stimulation(DCS) and intracarotid amytal test(IAT) or wada test]. Methods and Materials/Patients: This is a narrative study about brain mapping in neurosurgery. For providing up-to-date information on brain mapping in neurosurgery, we precisely reviewed brain mapping and neurosurgery articles. Using the keywords brain mapping, neurosurgery, brain mapping techniques, and benefits of brain mapping all the related articles were taken from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline and precisely studied. Results: For performing effective and safe neurosurgical interventions precise information about the structural and functional anatomy of brain are obligatory. Based on the information on brain mapping selection of suitable patients for operation, appropriate operative approach plan, and good surgical results can acquire. For providing this information we can use brain mapping techniques that were formerly applied in neuroscientific brain mapping efforts, with noninvasive techniques such as fMRI, MEG, dMRI, PET, etc and invasive techniques as DCS, IAT, etc.   Conclusion: Functional brain mapping is a constantly evolving fact in neurosurgery. All stages in the acquisition of a functional image are complex and need to know the baseline physiologic and imaging features.