6.6: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Question 1

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

Answer 1

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) is a method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology

Question 2

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) is a method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology (detecting what)?

Answer 2

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) is a method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology (detecting radio waves from changing magnetic fields)

Question 3

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) is a method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology (detecting radio waves from changing magnetic fields).
What does this enable researchers to do?

Answer 3

This enables researchers to detect which regions of the brain are rich in oxygen and thus are active

Question 4

How does fMRI work?

Answer 4

fMRI works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur as a result of neural (brain) activity in specific parts of the brain

Question 5

fMRI works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur as a result of neural (brain) activity in specific parts of the brain.
When a brain area is more active, what does it do?

Answer 5

When a brain area is more active, it consumes more oxygen

Question 6

fMRI works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur as a result of neural (brain) activity in specific parts of the brain.
When a brain area is more active, it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand, what happens?

Answer 6

When a brain area is more active, it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand, blood flow is directed to the active area

Question 7

fMRI works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur as a result of neural (brain) activity in specific parts of the brain.
When a brain area is more active, it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand, blood flow is directed to the active area.
What is this known as?

Answer 7

This is known as the haemodynamic response

Question 8

What does fMRI produce?

Answer 8

fMRI produces 3D images

Question 9

fMRI produces 3D images (what)?

Answer 9

fMRI produces 3D images (activation maps)

Question 10

fMRI produces 3D images (activation maps), showing what?

Answer 10

fMRI produces 3D images (activation maps), showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process

Question 11

fMRI produces 3D images (activation maps), showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process.
What does this have important implications for?

Answer 11

This has important implications for our understanding of localisation of function

Question 12

fMRI works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur as a result of neural (brain) activity in specific parts of the brain.
When a brain area is more active, it consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand, blood flow is directed to the active area.
This is known as the haemodynamic response.
What can researchers do?

Answer 12

Researchers can map these changes to show which regions of the brain are active during a particular task

Question 13

Areas of the brain that are involved in activities done by the person during scanning have a greater blood oxygenation and flow, so what?

Answer 13

Areas of the brain that are involved in activities done by the person during scanning have a greater blood oxygenation and flow, so specific brain areas can be linked to specific abilities

Question 14

fMRIs measure blood flow, as oxygenated blood flows to areas of the brain.
When areas of the brain are active, they have increased blood blood.
Do fMRIs produce a 2D or 3D image?

Answer 14

fMRIs produce a 3D image

Question 15

An fMRI study

Answer 15

An fMRI study is that Tulving found that:

1. Episodic memory is in the left prefrontal cortex
2. Semantic memory is in the right prefrontal cortex

Question 16

fMRIs can be used for what?

Answer 16

fMRIs can be used for stroke

Question 17

fMRIs can be used for stroke, because of what?

Answer 17

fMRIs can be used for stroke, because of bleeding in the brain

Question 18

Strengths of fMRIs:

1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, what?

Answer 18

One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation

Question 19

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, what?

Answer 19

If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use

Question 20

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
What does also produce?

Answer 20

It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution

Question 21

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, doing what?

Answer 21

It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised

Question 22

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so what?

Answer 22

fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment

Question 23

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as what?

Answer 23

fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as they have a 1 – 2mm resolution (is accurate to within 1 – 2mm in the brain)

Question 24

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as they have a 1 – 2mm resolution (is accurate to within 1 – 2mm in the brain).
   What is also important?

Answer 24

It is also important to be very specific in brain surgery

Question 25

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as they have a 1 – 2mm resolution (is accurate to within 1 – 2mm in the brain).
   It is also important to be very specific in brain surgery.
3. What do fMRIs provide?

Answer 25

fMRIs provide a moving picture of brain activity

Question 26

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as they have a 1 – 2mm resolution (is accurate to within 1 – 2mm in the brain).
   It is also important to be very specific in brain surgery.
3. fMRIs provide a moving picture of brain activity.
   What does this mean?

Answer 26

This means that patterns of activity can be compared, rather than just the physiology of the brain

Question 27

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as they have a 1 – 2mm resolution (is accurate to within 1 – 2mm in the brain).
   It is also important to be very specific in brain surgery.
3. fMRIs provide a moving picture of brain activity.
   This means that patterns of activity can be compared, rather than just the physiology of the brain.
   What is important?

Answer 27

The dynamic nature of brain activity is important

Question 28

Strengths of fMRIs:
1. One key strength of fMRI is, unlike other scanning techniques such as PET, it does not rely on the use of radiation.
If administered correctly, it is virtually risk-free, non-invasive and straightforward to use.
It also produces images that have very high spatial resolution, depicting detail by the millimetre and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.

2. fMRIs have high spatial resolution, so you can see where the damage is and provide treatment, as they have a 1 – 2mm resolution (is accurate to within 1 – 2mm in the brain).
   It is also important to be very specific in brain surgery.
3. fMRIs provide a moving picture of brain activity.
   This means that patterns of activity can be compared, rather than just the physiology of the brain.
   The dynamic nature of brain activity is important and so what?

Answer 28

The dynamic nature of brain activity is important and so the fMRI is particularly useful for this

Question 29

Weaknesses of fMRIs:

1. fMRI is what compared to other neuroimaging techniques?

Answer 29

fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques

Question 30

Weaknesses of fMRIs:

1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as what?

Answer 30

fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery

Question 31

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, what?

Answer 31

Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people

Question 32

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor what?

Answer 32

fMRI has poor temporal resolution

Question 33

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, why?

Answer 33

fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity

Question 34

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. What can fMRI only measure?

Answer 34

fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain

Question 35

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - what can it not do?

Answer 35

fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons

Question 36

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so what?

Answer 36

fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen

Question 37

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   What can we not see?

Answer 37

We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage

Question 38

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage.
4. fMRI is not useful is we want to do what?

Answer 38

fMRI is not useful if we want to see the brain activity in real time

Question 39

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage.
4. fMRI is not useful if we want to see the brain activity in real time.
   Example

Answer 39

For example, you wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when brainwaves change from delta to REM in sleep, so fMRIs are not useful for studying sleep states

Question 40

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage.
4. fMRI is not useful if we want to see the brain activity in real time.
   For example, you wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when brainwaves change from delta to REM in sleep, so fMRIs are not useful for studying sleep states.
5. When can fMRIs only capture a clear image?

Answer 40

fMRIs can only capture a clear image if the person stays perfectly still

Question 41

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage.
4. fMRI is not useful if we want to see the brain activity in real time.
   For example, you wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when brainwaves change from delta to REM in sleep, so fMRIs are not useful for studying sleep states.
5. fMRIs can only capture a clear image if the person stays perfectly still, which is difficult for the person, especially why?

Answer 41

fMRIs can only capture a clear image if the person stays perfectly still, which is difficult for the person, especially because it can be uncomfortable for them

Question 42

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage.
4. fMRI is not useful if we want to see the brain activity in real time.
   For example, you wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when brainwaves change from delta to REM in sleep, so fMRIs are not useful for studying sleep states.
5. fMRIs can only capture a clear image if the person stays perfectly still, which is difficult for the person, especially because it can be uncomfortable for them.
6. Why are the sample sizes in studies often small?

Answer 42

The sample sizes in studies are often small, due to limited availability and funding

Question 43

Weaknesses of fMRIs:
1. fMRI is expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques, as they are expensive machinery.
Therefore, fMRIs are less available to use on people, take time and it is expensive to diagnose people.

2. fMRI has poor temporal resolution, because there is around a 5 second time lag behind the image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity.
3. fMRI can only measure blood flow in the brain - it cannot home in on the activity of individual neurons and so it can be difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on screen.
   We cannot see on a cellular level what is happening in the brain, for example damage.
4. fMRI is not useful if we want to see the brain activity in real time.
   For example, you wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when brainwaves change from delta to REM in sleep, so fMRIs are not useful for studying sleep states.
5. fMRIs can only capture a clear image if the person stays perfectly still, which is difficult for the person, especially because it can be uncomfortable for them.
6. The sample sizes in studies are often small, due to limited availability and funding.
   What does this do?

Answer 43

This makes results difficult to generalise from