FMRI

Function

-Based on the same technology as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

-Non-invasive test that uses a strong magnetic field

-Radio waves to create detailed images of the body

-Instead of creating images of organs & tissues like an MRI, an FMRI looks at blood flow in the brain to detect areas of activity

-FMRI data is analyzed to identify brain areas in which the MR signal has a matching pattern of changes, taken to be activated by stimulus.

-Doesn’t involve radiation, safer for patent.

FMRI Different to Mri

-It detects oxygenated blood flow throughout the brain to determine brain activity and where it is occurring, unlike in an Mri which can create a structure of the scanned brain that shows and outlines any structural abnormalities.

-it's not as commonly used since it is newer, and its more costly

FMRI Different to EEG

-EEG's track brain activity through electric potentials placed on your head which send electric currents to neurons in the brain, which track the brain activity

-FMRI's measure the blood flow since with the increased brain activity it causes the motor neurons within the brain to become active, which requires oxygen to happen which is sent through the blood, which when oxygenated can be picked up by the FMRI.

What is an FMRI?

FMRI

FMRI different to PET

-You have to stay still

-Higher scan resolutions

-can detect blood flow in areas of the brain that measure only 3 cubic millimeters

-its cheaper and can be done in most hospitals since most have MRI's

-don't require radioactive isotopes to work

Pros of using an FMRI

-Easy to use

-Non-invasive and doesn't involve any radiation

excellent spatial and temporal resolution

-Shows how memories,language,pain are formed

FMRI

Cons

-expensive

-You have to be completely still

-very loud

What diseases and disorders can an FMRI help diagnose?

An fMRI could help diagnose certain diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, autism and others as well. An fMRI can easily detect which parts of the brain are more active and with that be able to diagnose a mental illness that the patient may have.

What does this tool tell us about how the brain works?

How would a doctor use an FMRI?

The fMRI detects the blood flow from one part of the brain to the other and it also shows us parts of the brain that are more active than others.

A doctor would place the patients head in a brace-like structure and have the patient lay down and ask them to stay still. Then the patient would be rolled into a tube like structure that looks like an MRI and there the machine would scan the brain. Each beep the machine makes it represents and image that was taken by the machine

How does an fMRI impact medicine?

A fMRI impacts medicine because this tool allows doctors to scan patients non-invasively and take snapshots of the brain as well as locate which part of the brain is most active. With this information they can determine whether the patient has any mental illness and what procedure to follow next.