Journal Articles
Abstract:
An influential technique for the study of the human brain has been functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The most common form of fMRI uses standard clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanners to create images based on blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast. Compared to other human neuroimaging techniques, BOLD fMRI has good spatial resolution but only fair temporal resolution. Nevertheless, because it is noninvasive and well matched to many experimental paradigms, it has become the dominant technique in cognitive neuroscience. This article describes the physical and physiological principles underlying fMRI, along with the key concepts of designing and analyzing fMRI experiments. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.