In 1993, fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) was mentioned less than 20 times in published articles. As a new technique, it developed rapidly, and by 2003 that number was about 1800 (Berman et al. 2006). First introduced in the 1990s, fMRI scans are used to map the brain by providing 3D neuroimages showing areas of activity. So, how do fMRI scans work? How do they provide detailed images of the brain and body? And how do we gain knowledge of function through using MRI machines?

• We are going to explore fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) machines.
• First, we will provide a functional magnetic resonance imaging definition.
• Then, we will delve into the world of fMRI scans, discussing various examples and describing how fMRI machines work.
• We will briefly discuss deactivations and hypoactivation in functional magnetic resonance imaging.
• Finally, we will provide an evaluation of fMRIs, analysing the advantages and disadvantages of functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Fig. 1: fMRI machines are valuable in medicine¹.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Definition

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine uses magnetic fields and radio waves to gain an inside look into the body. The patient is placed in a tube-shaped machine that uses incredibly powerful electromagnets to scan the body and brain. The results can then be used by researchers and medical professionals to understand any abnormalities.

So, what is an fMRI?

How does Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Work?

Functional magnetic resonance imaging detects changes in blood oxygenation in the brain, the flow of which brain activity affects. When an area of the brain is more active because the participant or patient being observed is doing something, such as working on a task, or because of damage, the brain's blood flow will increase or decrease based on oxygen demand.

Haemoglobin supplies oxygen to neurones. When these neurones activate, the increased activity must be balanced by providing the necessary oxygen and blood flow to make this possible, as well as providing energy in the form of glucose.

Blood with a higher oxygen concentration is affected differently by magnetic fields than blood with lower oxygen content. An fMRI magnetic field can detect this when scanning the participant or patient. This is called the BOLD (Blood oxygenation level-dependent) signal or theory and is primarily responsible for how an fMRI identifies functional areas.

An fMRI will then map the activated areas using voxels (when creating a 3D image of the brain, a voxel unit represents a tiny portion of brain tissue in the image), producing neural images.

The highlighted areas are active parts of the brain.

Fig. 2: An fMRI scan during working memory tasks reveals active areas of the brain.

Interestingly, a participant or patient must not speak or otherwise communicate when thinking about a task or answering a question. They have to answer it internally to prevent the brain from activating in other areas.

fMRI Psychology Examples

A good example of the use of fMRI in research is a study by Downing et al. (2001), in which they used fMRI to assign a function to specific brain regions

Similarly, Haxby et al. (2001) studied the architecture of the object visual pathway in the brain using fMRI.

• They measured the ventral temporal cortex patterns while subjects looked at faces, cats, nonsensical pictures, and artificial objects.
• They found distinct pattern responses for each category.
• Overall, they found that representations of faces and objects in the ventral temporal cortex were widely distributed and overlapping.
• They identified these functional areas thanks to the use of fMRI.

By using this brain scanning technique to identify potential functional areas, we can say that certain behaviours could be due to these functional areas. We can assume that an area of the brain that ‘lights up’, so to speak, correlates with the actions and behaviours of the individual, especially if we are careful in our experiments of isolating specific stimuli.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Evaluation

What are the advantages of functional magnetic resonance imaging? How about its weaknesses in studying the brain? We need to examine the various fMRI strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

First, let's explore the advantages of using fMRI scans.

• Non-invasive: An fMRI does not involve inserting anything into the brain or cutting open the head to look at the brain itself. It provides a view of the brain and its activities without invasive techniques.

• Virtually no associated risks: Because fMRI does not require any of the invasive techniques mentioned above, it is already safer than those techniques. It also does not use radiation, used in other brain-scanning techniques such as the PET scan (positron emission tomography).

• Clearly illustrates localisation: Neuroimages show clear areas of activity related to the patient’s or participant’s activity and are robust in studies that focus on examining a specific function, limiting confounding variables.

• Helps prepare for surgery: If a patient needs surgery, fMRI is valuable beforehand to map areas needing attention to better prepare and navigate efficiently during surgery.

• High spatial resolution: It provides a detailed image and is extremely accurate.

Disadvantages of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Now, let's examine the disadvantages of using fMRI scans.

• Expensive: Operating an fMRI machine is quite costly, both in training and the machine itself.

• Stillness required: A participant or patient must remain still while scanning in the machine, severely limiting the type of research with this method. They cannot move, respond properly, or perform tasks that require movement, as this would compromise the results or make scanning impossible altogether.

• Blood flow is difficult to interpret: Because an fMRI only detects changes in blood flow, it can only tell you if an area is active or not. It does not tell you why the neurone in question is activated, nor does it tell you anything beyond changes in blood flow. The neurone itself can be activated for various reasons, with different tiny functions controlled by the primary function. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the cause and effect.

• Some areas also light up for multiple reasons. Certain areas of the brain are responsible for reactions that can be opposite, especially when it comes to emotional responses.

• Low temporal resolution: There is a slight delay, usually about five seconds, before changes in blood flow and activity levels within a neurone are detected, so fMRI has a poor temporal resolution.