View source for Biology:Functional neuroimaging

[[Image:Functional magnetic resonance imaging.jpg|thumb|240px|Functional magnetic resonance imaging data]]
'''Functional neuroimaging''' is the use of [[Biology:Neuroimaging|neuroimaging]] technology to measure an aspect of brain function, often with a view to understanding the relationship between activity in certain [[Biology:Brain|brain]] areas and specific mental functions. It is primarily used as a research tool in [[Cognitive neuroscience|cognitive neuroscience]], [[Philosophy:Cognitive psychology|cognitive psychology]], [[Social:Neuropsychology|neuropsychology]], and [[Biology:Social neuroscience|social neuroscience]].

== Overview ==
[[File:Main brain functional imaging technique resolutions.svg|thumb|Main brain functional imaging technique resolutions]]

Common methods of functional neuroimaging include
* [[Physics:Positron emission tomography|Positron emission tomography]] (PET)
* [[Physics:Functional magnetic resonance imaging|Functional magnetic resonance imaging]] (fMRI)
* [[Biology:Electroencephalography|Electroencephalography]] (EEG)
* [[Biology:Magnetoencephalography|Magnetoencephalography]] (MEG)
* [[Biology:Functional near-infrared spectroscopy|Functional near-infrared spectroscopy]] (fNIRS)
* [[Biology:Single-photon emission computed tomography|Single-photon emission computed tomography]] (SPECT)
* [[Physics:Functional ultrasound imaging|Functional ultrasound imaging]] (fUS)

PET, fMRI, fNIRS and fUS can measure localized changes in cerebral blood flow related to neural activity. These changes are referred to as ''activations''. Regions of the brain which are activated when a subject performs a particular task may play a role in the [[Computational neuroscience|neural computations]] which contribute to the behaviour. For instance, widespread activation of the [[Biology:Occipital lobe|occipital lobe]] is typically seen in tasks which involve visual stimulation (compared with tasks that do not). This part of the brain receives signals from the [[Biology:Retina|retina]] and is believed to play a role in [[Philosophy:Visual perception|visual perception]].

Other methods of neuroimaging involve recording of electrical currents or magnetic fields, for example EEG and MEG. Different methods have different advantages for research; for instance, MEG measures brain activity with high temporal resolution (down to the millisecond level), but is limited in its ability to localize that activity. fMRI does a much better job of localizing brain activity for spatial resolution, but with a much lower time resolution<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Poldrack | first1 = R. A. | last2 = Sandak | first2 = R. | doi = 10.1207/s1532799xssr0803_1 | title = Introduction to This Special Issue: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Reading | journal = Scientific Studies of Reading | volume = 8 | issue = 3 | pages = 199 | year = 2004 | s2cid = 143368316 }}</ref> while [[Physics:Functional ultrasound imaging|functional ultrasound]] (fUS) can reach an interesting spatio-temporal resolution (down to 100 micrometer, 100 milliseconds, at 15&nbsp;MHz in preclinical models) but is also limited by the neurovascular coupling.

Recently, [[Magnetic particle imaging]] has been proposed as a new sensitive imaging technique that has sufficient temporal resolution for functional neuroimaging based on the increase of cerebral blood volume. First pre-clinical trials have successfully demonstrated functional imaging in rodents.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Herb|first1=Konstantin|last2=Mason|first2=Erica|last3=Mattingly|first3=Eli|last4=Mandeville|first4=Joseph|last5=Mandeville|first5=Emiri|last6=Cooley|first6=Clarissa|last7=Wald|first7=Lawrence|title=Functional MPI (fMPI) of hypercapnia in rodent brain with MPI time-series imaging|journal=International Journal on Magnetic Particle Imaging|language=en|volume=6|issue=2/1|doi=10.18416/IJMPI.2020.2009009|year=2020}}</ref>

== Functional neuroimaging topics ==
The measure used in a particular study is generally related to the particular question being addressed.  Measurement limitations vary amongst the techniques.  For instance, MEG and EEG record the magnetic or electrical fluctuations that occur when a population of neurons is active.  These methods are excellent for measuring the time-course of neural events (on the order of milliseconds,) but generally bad at measuring where those events happen.  PET and fMRI measure changes in the composition of blood near a neural event.  Because measurable blood changes are slow (on the order of seconds), these methods are much worse at measuring the time-course of neural events, but are generally better at measuring the location.

Traditional "activation studies" focus on determining distributed patterns of brain activity associated with specific tasks.  However, scientists are able to more thoroughly understand brain function by studying the interaction of distinct brain regions, as a great deal of neural processing is performed by an integrated network of several regions of the brain.  An active area of neuroimaging research involves examining the functional connectivity of spatially remote brain regions.  Functional connectivity analyses allow the characterization of interregional neural interactions during particular cognitive or motor tasks or merely from spontaneous activity during rest.  FMRI and PET enable creation of functional connectivity maps of distinct spatial distributions of temporally correlated brain regions called functional networks. Several studies using neuroimaging techniques have also established that posterior visual areas in blind individuals may be active during the performance of nonvisual tasks such as Braille reading, memory retrieval, and auditory localization as well as other auditory functions.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Gougoux | first1 = F. D. R. | last2 = Zatorre | first2 = R. J. | last3 = Lassonde | first3 = M. | last4 = Voss | first4 = P. | last5 = Lepore | first5 = F. | title = A Functional Neuroimaging Study of Sound Localization: Visual Cortex Activity Predicts Performance in Early-Blind Individuals | doi = 10.1371/journal.pbio.0030027 | journal = PLOS Biology | volume = 3 | issue = 2 | pages = e27 | year = 2005 | pmid =  15678166| pmc =544927 | doi-access = free }} {{open access}}</ref>

A direct method to measure functional connectivity is to observe how stimulation of one part of the brain will affect other areas. This can be done noninvasively in humans by combining [[Physics:Transcranial magnetic stimulation|transcranial magnetic stimulation]] with one of the neuroimaging tools such as PET, fMRI, or EEG. Massimini et al. (''Science'', September 30, 2005) used EEG to record how activity spreads from the stimulated site. They reported that in non-REM sleep, although the brain responds vigorously to stimulation, functional connectivity is much attenuated from its level during wakefulness. Thus, during deep sleep, "brain areas do not talk to each other".

Functional neuroimaging draws on data from many areas other than [[Cognitive neuroscience|cognitive neuroscience]] and [[Biology:Social neuroscience|social neuroscience]], including other biological sciences (such as [[Biology:Neuroanatomy|neuroanatomy]] and [[Biology:Neurophysiology|neurophysiology]]), [[Physics:Physics|physics]] and maths, to further develop and refine the technology.

== Critique and careful interpretation ==
Functional neuroimaging studies have to be carefully designed and interpreted with care.
Statistical analysis (often using a technique called [[Biology:Statistical parametric mapping|statistical parametric mapping]]) is often needed so that the different sources of activation within the brain can be distinguished from one another.
This can be particularly challenging when considering processes which are difficult to conceptualise or have no easily definable task associated with them (for example [[Philosophy:Belief|belief]] and [[Philosophy:Consciousness|consciousness]]).

Functional neuroimaging of interesting phenomena often gets cited in the press.
In one case a group of prominent functional neuroimaging researchers felt compelled to write a letter to {{wipe|New York Times}} in response to an op-ed article about a study of so-called [[Biology:Neuropolitics|neuropolitics]].<ref>Marco Iacoboni et al. (2007). [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/opinion/11freedman.html "This Is Your Brain on Politics"]. In: ''The New York Times'' 11 November 2007.</ref> They argued that some of the interpretations of the study were "scientifically unfounded".<ref>[[Biography:Chris Frith|Chris Frith]] et al. (2007). [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/opinion/lweb14brain.html "Politics and the Brain"]. In: The New York Times, 14 November 2007.</ref>

The Hastings Center issued a report in March 2014 entitled "Interpreting Neuroimages: An Introduction to the Technology and Its Limits",<ref>Johnston, J., & Parens, E. (2014).[http://www.thehastingscenter.org/publications-resources/special-reports-2/interpreting-neuroimages-an-introduction-to-the-technology-and-its-limits/ "Interpreting Neuroimages: An Introduction to the Technology and Its Limits", The Hastings Center Report, Volume 44, Issue s2, March-April 2014].</ref> with articles by leading neuroscientists and [[Philosophy:Bioethics|bioethicists]]. The report briefly explains neuroimaging technologies and mostly critiques, but also somewhat defends, their current state, import and prospects.

== See also ==
<!-- alphabetical order please WP:SEEALSO -->
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{{div col|colwidth=20em|small=yes}}
* {{Annotated link |Analysis of Functional NeuroImages}}
* {{Annotated link |Automated Anatomical Labeling}}
* {{Annotated link |Dynamic causal modelling}}
* {{Annotated link |Electroencephalography}}
* {{Annotated link |Event-related potential}}
* {{Annotated link |FMRIB Software Library}}
* {{Annotated link |FreeSurfer}}
* {{Annotated link |Functional integration (neurobiology)}}
* {{Annotated link |Magnetoencephalography}}
* {{Annotated link |Mental event}}
* {{Annotated link |Near-infrared spectroscopy}}
* {{Annotated link |Perfusion scanning}}
* {{Annotated link |Single-photon emission computed tomography}}
* {{Annotated link |Statistical parametric mapping}}
{{div col end}}
<!-- alphabetical order please WP:SEEALSO -->

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Cabeza, R., & Kingstone, K. (eds.) (2006). ''Handbook of Functional Neuroimaging of Cognition''. MIT Press.
* Cacioppo, J.T., Tassinary, L.G., & Berntson, G. G. (2007). Handbook of Psychophysiology. Cambridge University Press.
* Hillary, F.G., & DeLuca, J. (2007). ''Functional Neuroimaging in Clinical Populations''.
* Kanwisher, N., & Duncan, J. (2004). ''Functional Neuroimaging of Visual Cognition''.
* Silbersweig, D., & Stern, E. (2001). ''Functional Neuroimaging and Neuropsychology Fundamentals and Practice''.
* Thatcher, R, W. (1994). ''Functional Neuroimaging: Technical Foundations.''

== External links ==
* [http://www.asnweb.org/ The American Society of Neuroimaging (ASN)].
* [http://www.brainmapping.org/NITP UCLA Neuroimaging Training Program].
* [http://www.brainmapping.org/ BrainMapping.org, ''a free BrainMapping community information portal'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160118132843/http://www.med.harvard.edu/aanlib/home.html The Whole Brain Atlas @ Harvard]

[[Category:Neuroimaging]]
[[Category:Cognitive neuroscience]]
[[Category:Medical imaging]]

{{Sourceattribution|Functional neuroimaging}}