Functional Imaging in Movement Disorders

This chapter focuses on aspects of functional neuroimaging that relate to current and potential future applications of neurosurgery. Specifically, this chapter addresses molecular imaging (positron emission tomography [PET] and single-photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods and studies. The goals are to provide an overview of various functional neuroimaging techniques and applications in movement disorders and deliver a foundation for critical review of the literature to permit the neurosurgeon or investigator to determine what will move the field forward with regard to potential novel clinical applications. We emphasize potential future applications of functional neuroimaging including study of structure-function relationships, selection of appropriate patients for neurosurgical intervention, improved targeting of neurosurgical intervention, and localization of neurochemical deficits to guide potential restorative therapeutics.