Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Unlocking the Brain’s Mysteries
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, commonly known as fMRI, is a groundbreaking neuroimaging technique that allows researchers and clinicians to observe brain activity in real time. Unlike traditional MRI, which provides detailed images of brain structure, fMRI captures dynamic processes by measuring changes in blood flow, offering insights into how different areas of the brain function during various tasks or at rest.
How fMRI Works
The principle behind fMRI is the relationship between neuronal activity and blood oxygenation, often referred to as the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal. When a specific brain region is active, neurons consume more oxygen. To meet this increased demand, local blood flow rises, altering the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated hemoglobin. Because oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin have different magnetic properties, these changes can be detected by an MRI scanner and mapped to specific brain regions.
This non-invasive…