fMRI Methods Flashcards
Magnetism and Brain Function
The role of magnetic properties in brain activity.
Magnetic Moment
A property of particles like protons
Protons in the Brain
Small particles in the brain that create magnetic signals used in MRI.
BOLD (Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent) Contrast Imaging
A brain imaging technique that measures oxygen levels to study brain activity.
BOLD Image
An MRI scan that shows brain regions with high oxygen levels as brighter areas
Temporal Evolution of BOLD Effect
The way the BOLD signal changes over time after a stimulus.
Subtraction Design
A brain imaging method that compares task-related brain activity by subtracting a control condition.
Factorial Design
A study approach that examines interactions between different cognitive tasks.
Parametric Design
A method that changes task difficulty to study how the brain adapts
Event-Related fMRI (erfMRI)
A technique that detects short-term changes in brain activity.
Rapid erfMRI
A faster version of erfMRI that presents more stimuli in a shorter time.
Mixed Designs
A combination of event-related and block designs to capture different types of brain activity.
Behaviorally Driven fMRI
An imaging approach that studies brain activity during rest instead of structured tasks.
Time to Repetition (TR)
The time it takes to capture one full brain image in fMRI.
Spatial Resolution
The level of detail in a brain scan.
Voxel
A small 3D cube in a brain image like a pixel but in three dimensions.
Jittering
A method to improve fMRI timing by varying when stimuli are presented.
Parallel Imaging
A technique that speeds up MRI scans while maintaining image quality.
Susceptibility Artifacts
Distortions in MRI images caused by differences in tissue properties.
Activation Map
A color-coded brain image showing regions active during a task.
Brain Activity
The processes happening in the brain such as neurons firing or changes in metabolism.
Measurement Techniques
Methods used to observe brain activity while a person does a task.
Manipulation Techniques
Methods used to change brain activity to see how it affects behavior.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
A method that records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes on the scalp.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
A brain imaging method that measures changes in blood oxygen levels to study brain activity.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
A brain imaging technique that uses radioactive substances to track brain activity.
Neurons
Cells in the brain that send and receive electrical and chemical signals.
Lesions
Areas of damage in the brain often due to injury or disease.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
A method that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity in certain areas.
Axonal Signaling
The process of neurons sending messages along their long extensions (axons).
Dendritic Integration
How neurons combine signals they receive from other neurons.
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that help neurons communicate with each other.
Blood-Oxygenation-Level-Dependent (BOLD) Signal
The signal measured by fMRI to track brain activity.
Single-Unit Recording
A method that records electrical signals from one or a few neurons.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
A method that records magnetic fields produced by brain activity.
Animal Studies
Experiments done on animals to understand brain function.
Cognitive Function
Brain processes that allow thinking decision-making
Invasive Techniques
Methods that involve inserting tools or chemicals into the body.
Non-Invasive Techniques
Methods that do not require anything to be inserted into the body.
Temporal Resolution
How quickly a technique can detect changes in brain activity.
