Overview
fMRI detects blood oxygen level dependent BOLD signal changes related to neuronal activity enabling functional mapping of brain regions.
Technique
Task based or resting state paradigms and careful preprocessing are required for reliable activation maps.
Clinical Uses
Preoperative functional mapping for language and motor areas and research into brain networks and cognition.
Limitations and Safety
Susceptible to motion and physiologic noise. Interpretation requires expertise and correlation with clinical data.