fMRI

• WHAT DOES fMRI STAND FOR?

  functional magnetic reasoning image
• HOW DOES fMRI MEASURE BRAIN ACTIVITY?

  detecting changes associated with oxygenated blood flow
• WHAT DOES fMRI RELY ON THE IDEA OF?

  when an area is in use, more blood flows to that region
• WHAT DO fMRIs USE?

  magnetic field and radio waves to monitor a change in energy released by haemoglobin
• WHAT KIND OF IMAGE DO fMRIs PRODUCE?

  detailed, moving, 3D image
• HOW IS AN fMRI CARRIED OUT?

  activity in regions of interest compared during baseline task and during a specific activity
• WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF AN fMRI?

  • relatively objective
  • risk free (no radiation involved)
  • only method allowing us to view images of the brain whilst it is active
• WHAT ARE THE WEAKNESSES OF fMRI?

  • poor temporal resolution (5s delay)
  • cannot detect activity of particular neurotransmitters
  • possibility that blood flow represents communication between areas not areas specialised for function
  • hard to make assumptions about cortical specialisation
  • fMRI research is expensive
  • reduced sample sizes
  • negatively impacts validity