Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) explained | Neuroscience Methods 101

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, is a neuroimaging method which makes brain scans that show regions with increased brain activity.

With an MRI scanner oxygen properties of blood can be measured. This gives an indication whether a region is rich or poor in oxygen. Since neurons require oxygen after being activated, this so-called blood-oxygenation-level-dependent response, or BOLD response, is a proxy of brain activity.

Blood rich in oxygen, i.e. oxygenated blood, has diamagnetic properties and is slightly repelled within the magnetic field. Deoxygenated blood, which is poor in oxygen, has paramagnetic properties and is slightly attracted by the magnetic field. These differences lead to differences in the MRI signal and reflect activated an less activated regions.

References/Resources:
Huettel, S.A., Song, A.W., McCarthy, G. (2014). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 3rd edition. Sinauer Associates, Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Narrated by: Miles Wischnewski

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