Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) - Video Lesson

Hey, everybody. Welcome to today's lesson on MRI contrast. This lesson focuses on a specialized type of scan called functional MRI or fMRI. This lesson discusses the foundational concepts, mechanisms, and applications of fMRI in research and clinical settings. Let's begin. Functional MRI or fMRI is a non invasive imaging technique used to observe brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow. This method relies on the fact that when an area of the brain is in use, blood flow to that region increases. Unlike traditional structural MRI, which provides detailed images of the structure of the body, fMRI focuses on the function of tissues by measuring blood flow changes related to tissue activity. The primary contrast mechanism in fMRI is based on the blood oxygenation level dependent or