高级脑活动的功能性核磁共振成像

功能性核磁共振成像技术可以显示大脑各个区域内静脉毛细血管中血液氧合状态所起的磁共振信号的小变化。使用ｆＭＲＩ的方法，可以在正常的活体上无损伤地实现大脑活动的功能定位，时空分辨率可分别达到秒和毫米数量级，尽管目前还面临一系列技术的困难，ｆＭＲＩ已经日益成为观察大脑活动，研究有脑的拓扑结构，进而揭示脑和思维关系的一种重要方法。

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Higher Brain Activity *

Functional magnetic resonance images (fMRIs) exhibit small differences in the magnetic resonance signal intensity in positions corresponding to focal areas of brain activation. These signal are caused by variation in the oxygenation state of the venous vasculature. Using this non invasive and dynamic method, it is possible to localize functional brain activation, in vivo, in normal individuals, with an accuracy of millimeters and a temporal resolution of seconds. Though a series of technical difficulties remain, fMRI is increasingly becoming a key method for visualizing the working brain, and uncovering the topographical organization of the human brain, and understanding the relationship between brain and the mind.