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Scientists at Pitt develop new tool for diagnosing traumatic brain injuries

Thursday, March 08, 2012

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Pittsburgh

CBS News reports that doctors at the University of Pittsburgh have found a new way to visualize the damage caused by traumatic brain injuries.

How does it work? Brain cells communicate with each other through a system of nerve fibers that act like a telephone network, making up what's called the white matter of the brain. White matter runs along cable-like highways called fiber tracts that contain millions of connections. The new scan processes high-powered MRIs through a special computer program to map major fiber tracts, painting them in greens, yellows and purples that designate their functions. Researchers look for breaks in the fibers that could slow or stop those nerve connections from doing their job.

Original source: CBS News
Read the full story here.

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