Fascinating Medical Photo Shows The Complex Wirings Of The Human Brain
This incredibly intricate photo shows the human brain at its most complex and colourful best.
The striking rainbow-coloured image was created by advanced imaging technologies and shows just how complicated the inner workings of our heads are.
Looking more like a kaleidoscope than a brain, the picture is going on display as part of an exhibition displaying the inner workings of the human body.
It will be shown alongside a snapshot of the eye’s retina and a 3D heart at the University of Edinburgh.
But aside from being nice to look at, the pictures also have another purpose - to show how cutting edge imaging techniques help medical research.
One of the images on display is a detailed close-up of the back of the eye.
Images like this measure changes in the blood vessels of the retina, which could provide early warning of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Another is a 3D reconstruction of a patient’s heart, aorta and coronary arteries, created from CT scans.
Doctors use this technology to detect people risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks without the need for surgery.
Professor Joanna Wardlaw, director of Edinburgh Imaging, said: “Advances in imaging technologies - such as MRI, MR-PET and microscopy - are vital for the continued discovery of new methods of diagnosing, monitoring and treating disease.
“This exhibition gives patients an insight to research that is happening right here in Edinburgh.”
The exhibition runs at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Bioquarter campus in the suburban Little France area of the city for five weeks from today (September 3).
