Brain mapping and awake brain surgery are advanced neurosurgical procedures that are used to optimize the resection (removal) of brain tumors. When awake brain surgery is performed, the patient remains alert and responsive at various times during the aggressive resection of infiltrative brain tumors such as gliomas.

In addition, these procedures can be used when searching for areas of the brain responsible for the origin of seizures (epilepsy). Having the patient awake helps the surgical team to locate more precisely the interface between the tumor and the functionally eloquent cortical and subcortical white matter tracts. This facilitates aggressive tumor resection with minimal morbidity in the hope of improving patient prognosis.