Hi. This is a question for my summer neuroscience class.
Q: How does fMRI create images of neuronal activity? How does neuronal activity cause changes in blood flow?
Functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI) measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow. It depends upon the fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are coupled. When an area of the brain is in use, blood supply to that area also increases.
The blood oxygen level dependent signal (BOLD), detected in fMRI Reflects changes in deoxyhemoglobin driven by localized changes in brain blood flow and blood oxygenation, which are coupled to underlying neuronal activity by a process known as neurovascular coupling.
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