Functional & Molecular Imaging
This focuses on the brain "in action," measuring blood flow, oxygen, and metabolic changes.
fMRI (Functional MRI): New techniques focus on cortical-layer fMRI, which can distinguish between the brain's input and output signals, bridging the gap between cellular activity and whole-brain behavior.
Total-Body PET Scanners: These new scanners, such as those being installed in 2026, are significantly more sensitive. They allow for much lower radiation doses, making it safer for children and repeat scans to monitor diseases like Alzheimer's via tau and amyloid radiotracers.
Wearable OPM-MEG: Unlike traditional, bulky MEG machines that require liquid helium cooling, these use Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs). They are lightweight "helmets" that allow patients to move naturally while their brain's magnetic activity is recorded.