Article Critique: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Essay Example

? Article Critique: “Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging” This paper critiques the article “Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging” which is published by Radiologic Technology, a journal of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (Shagam, 2007). This paper hereby states the purpose of the article as a fourteen point learning objective encompassing pertinent concerns relative to functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging including its overview; a description of blood-oxygenation-level dependent contrast; its clinical applications, patient safety and research facilities. Finally, fMR imaging’s manifestation and implication as a window to the brain was expounded for medical practitioners’ use in its role in areas such as clinical diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. “Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging” The article written by Shagam (2007) entitled “Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging” and published in the July-August 2007 Issue of Radiologic Technology proffered pertinent issues relative to understanding the process and importance of functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging, particularly focusing on the physiology of cognition, memory, emotion and creativity (Shagam, 2007). The purpose of the essay is to critique the article in terms of encompassing crucial elements and in exuding strengths or eminent weaknesses in achieving its defined objectives and in arriving at valid conclusions. Initially, the author did not explicitly state the purpose for writing the article since a discussion on what fMR imaging is in general was immediately presented. It could thereby be presumed that the article is a descriptive narrative and qualitative study that presents crucial concerns relative to fMR imaging, as a whole. As observed, the author enumerated a fourteen point learning objective that readers should be able to exemplify after reading the article. The importance of the article in the field of imaging, detection, or future trends is relevant as it provided vast applications for medical practitioners in terms of accurately allowing “researchers and clinicians literally to watch the brain in action. To create these images, researchers measure the fluctuations in brain metabolism and blood flow that occur in response to sensory and cognitive stimuli” (Shagam, 2007, p. 477). The key concepts that were presented included an overview of fMR imaging; a description of blood-oxygenation-level dependent contrast; its clinical applications, patient safety and research facilities. Likewise, fMR imaging’s manifestation and implication as a window to the brain was expounded in its role in areas such as clinical diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The strengths of the article therefore could be evaluated in terms of providing the contents in a clear structure complete with headings and sub-headings; the use of figures that enhanced illustrative details of examples of fMR imaging weighted images, complex molecule, as well as activation process and healthy controls; the use of tabular illustrations that highlight summarized details; and contentions supported by a total of 40 references from reputable and authoritative sources. It is commendable to note that all references were published within the 10-year time frame where the oldest source was dated in 1998; therefore, readers are assured that contents are still applicable in contemporary setting. The author likewise used a comprehensible language to enable readers from various academic backgrounds to understand the contents being discussed. Relevant terms were duly defined and significant contemporary statistics were provided to increase credibility and validity of the discourse. On the other hand, one weakness was likewise noted: the authoritativeness of the author herself, being a freelance medical writer and not an active medical practitioner within the field of radiologic technology. Therefore, it is presumed that all information provided was researched and no professional information was added from the perspective of a medical practitioner. In a way, this fact diminishes the credibility of seeing implications and applications of fMR imaging from the point of view of a practicing health care professional. The conclusions drawn were therefore purely narrative and descriptive drawn from various secondary sources. Though highly credible and applicable, the reliability and validity of the conclusions could have been strengthened and confirmed through professional experience of using fMR imaging, as required. However, as disclosed, the benefits of using fMR imaging have been expounded to enable medical practitioners to enhance accuracy in identifying the relationship of diverse illnesses as influenced by brain activities; and thereby assist in “helping clinicians improve patient care for the millions of people who live with a range of difficult-to manage diseases and mental illnesses” (Shagam, 2007, p. 479). In addition, Shagam (2007) duly noted ethical issues and further commercial applications for using fMR imaging in the fields of “lie-detection in criminal and terrorist investigations and for testing how people respond to advertisements” (Shagam, 2007, p. 487). In this regard, one therefore strongly support the author’s contentions as the medical field (just like other professions and endeavors) welcome the applicability of new discoveries in improving the welfare of mankind. Accordingly, one did not know that fMR imaging could detect levels of alcohol intoxication, as well as propensities for gambling. As noted, “fMR studies have already shown that, similar to alcohol addiction, gambling causes changes in brain activity” (Shagam, 2007, p. 487). Therefore, other behavioral activities relating to cognitive use could be further explored with the objective of enhancing understanding, not only in effectively diagnosing root causes or levels and extent of activation; but more importantly, providing ways for new treatment and innovative monitoring techniques. One therefore found that the ability of fMR imaging to determine diverse causes of phantom pain as related to various illnesses most interesting. There are a plethora of phantom pain-related illnesses that remains to be explored with the ultimate aim of providing due relief using effective interventions (excluding the use of drugs). From the article published by the Columbia University (n.d.), it was revealed that the role of fMR imaging in pain management has been supported through “preliminary studies (which) suggest a wide range of other approaches using fMRI to investigate cortical representations of specific pain types, and therefore, new specific therapy options” (Columbia University: Future Role in Pain Management, n.d., par. 1). The current critique thereby effectively addressed the author’s effectiveness in presenting the article in terms of integrating crucial elements about the topic being discussed and in exuding strengths or eminent weaknesses in achieving its defined objectives and in arriving at valid and reliable conclusions. Overall, this article achieved all the learning objectives identified by Shaman (2007) as explicitly intended. References Columbia University. (n.d.). The Future Role of functional MRI in Medical Applications. Retrieved April 10, 2012, from fmri.org: http://www.fmri.org/fmri.htm Shagam, J. (2007). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Radiologic Technology, Vol. 78, No. 6, 476-489. Read More