I direct the functional MRI (fMRI) laboratory, which provides pre-operative planning for patients with brain tumors. We use fMRI and another technique called diffusion MRI to identify important areas of the brain, such as those that control language or motor function, in patients with brain tumors. The ability to identify these vital areas before and during surgery allows a neurosurgeon or radiation therapist to operate on or treat only the tumor, thereby avoiding surrounding brain tissue that is critical for important functions such as speech and movement.
