Clinical applications of functional magnetic resonance imaging

Despite its immediate success as a tool for basic research, the clinical application of functional MRI(fMRI) is still limited. FMRI has proven useful for presurgical functional mapping of the eloquent cortices. Localization of the sensorimotor cortex by fMRI may be of relatively limited value because the sensorimotor cortex can often be readily localized by means of anatomical methods. In contrast, the language cortices may not be localized anatomically and the language dominant hemisphere has been determined by invasive Wada test. Previous reports have shown that fMRI can be a promising alternative to the Wada test. A recent clinical trial has suggested that fMRI can be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stage, detecting subclinical deterioration of the memory function. FMRI may be useful to predict the future decline of memory in people with genetic risks. Monitoring of the functional recovery of post-stroke brains may be another promising clinical application of fMRI. FMRI has demonstrated functional reorganization of the brain that may be related to the restoration of motor and language functions.