Browsing: fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures and maps brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow. This method relies on the fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are coupled. When an area of the brain is in use, blood flow to that region also increases. The primary form of fMRI uses the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast, which reflects changes in the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood as neural activity fluctuates. fMRI is widely used in both research and clinical settings to observe the brain’s functional anatomy, assess the effects of stroke or disease, and explore the complexities of the human mind.