Essay on FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging—fMRI—opens a window onto the brain at work. By tracking changes in cerebral blood flow as a subject performs a mental task, fMRI shows which brain regions “light up” when making a movement, thinking of a loved one, or telling a lie. Its ability to reveal function, not merely structure, distinguishes fMRI from static neuroimaging techniques such as CT scanning, and its capacity to highlight the neural substrates of decisions, emotions, and deceptions has propelled fMRI into the popular consciousness. Discussions of the future of fMRI have conjured visions of mind-reading devices used everywhere from the front door at the airport terminal to the back room of the corporate personnel office.

Changes in brain function due to brain disorders can be visualized in several ways. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures the concentration of specific chemical compounds in the brain that may change during specific behaviors. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) maps changes in oxygen concentration that correspond to nerve cell activity. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field rather than x-rays to provide clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a relatively new procedure that uses MR imaging to measure the quick, tiny metabolic changes that take place in an active part of the brain. Physicians know the general areas of the brain where speech, sensation, memory, and other functions occur. However, the exact locations vary from individual to individual. Injuries and disease, such as stroke or brain tumor, can even cause functions to shift to other parts of the brain. FMRI not only helps radiologists look closely at the anatomy of the brain, but can help them determine precisely which part of the brain is handling critical functions such as thought, speech, movement, and sensation.........................

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