3-D View of the Brain
The 3-D rendering of a brain tumor and associated brain fibers at left, made by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, is the product of new software that integrates data from multiple imaging technologies to provide much clearer images. The image shows a tumor (blue mass) and its position relative to brain fibers (threadlike objects) that are affected by the tumor and vital to brain function. The software lets surgeons see which fibers are engulfed by the tumor (dashed lines) and which are outside the tumor (solid lines). Colors indicate the depth of the engulfed fibers or the exterior fibers’ distance from the tumor’s surface; for example, pink and red dashed lines represent deeply engulfed fibers. Pilot studies have demonstrated the software’s usefulness in neurosurgical planning; the researchers expect that with fine-tuning, the technology could be in operating rooms within a year. The images use data from conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which gives details on anatomy; functional MRI, which provides information on neural activity; and diffusion tensor imaging, which provides images of fibers connecting different brain areas.
Multimedia
See images produced by the new software.

Keep Reading
Most Popular

Toronto wants to kill the smart city forever
The city wants to get right what Sidewalk Labs got so wrong.

Saudi Arabia plans to spend $1 billion a year discovering treatments to slow aging
The oil kingdom fears that its population is aging at an accelerated rate and hopes to test drugs to reverse the problem. First up might be the diabetes drug metformin.

Yann LeCun has a bold new vision for the future of AI
One of the godfathers of deep learning pulls together old ideas to sketch out a fresh path for AI, but raises as many questions as he answers.

The dark secret behind those cute AI-generated animal images
Google Brain has revealed its own image-making AI, called Imagen. But don't expect to see anything that isn't wholesome.
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.