What is fMRI?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a method of obtaining detailed images of the internal structures of the body without any harm to the person being scanned. A strong magnetic field is used. The magnetic field forces hydrogen atoms to align according to the direction of the magnetic field. Radio waves emitted from the scanner cause some hydrogen atoms to enter a higher energy state. The radio waves are then turned off causing the atoms to release energy. This energy is received by the scanner as a signal. Hydrogen atoms respond differently when in water molecules than in larger molecules such as fat molecules. This results in different signal strengths being obtained from different parts of the brain. The result is an image such as the ones on the right.
Functional MRI (fMRI) involves obtaining additional data about changes in blood oxygen levels in different parts of the brain during a scan. This is an indication of brain activity. By giving you computer-based tasks during an fMRI scan, we can obtain information about your brain responses to different stimuli.
If you take part in stage 1 and would like to keep a picture of your brain, please ask us and we can provide you with one.
