23NA magnetic resonance functional brain imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging of sodium levels in the brain is used as a method for determining regional brain function. Direct measurement of sodium levels can be directly used to determine characteristics of blood volume in the cerebrum for research, diagnostic or clinical applications. Determination of the ratio between changes in sodium level changes and changes in arterial dissolved carbon dioxide levels can be used as a measure of regional vascular reserve when compared with norms, as an early indicator of possible cerebral ischemia. Grey scale images can be made by tomographic methods of the information generated by these scans.