Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Prime

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) is a new technology for producing images of the brain that reflect local differences in neuronal activity. As a consequence of this and other brain scan technologies, a new discipline has emerged for the study of cerebral function and pathology. The FMRI technique is potentially revolutionary because it can produce high resolution pictures and movies of dynamic brain activation during sensory input, motor performance, or cognitive activity. Since it is non-invasive and has no known health risks, hundreds of images can be obtained from a single subject, thus permitting detailed and thorough studies of brain function in humans. Moreover, by performing similar FMRI studies in both humans and animals, knowledge obtained from subhuman species eventually may be applied more directly to studies of normal and pathological brain conditions in humans. Clinically, the FMRI technology may prove to be one of the more accessible of the new scanning techniques since many hospital include MR imaging facilities that could be modified to permit functional imaging. To acquaint the non-specialist with this technology, we have presented here and in 'Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Applications' an introduction to FMRI techniques and their application to vision research.