PSY 3301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Visual Search, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3301
• Professor: Andra Smith

Document Summary

Measure of blood flow in the brain during cognitive, emotional, behavioral tasks. Has been validated by comparison studies with pet, erp and lesion studies. Naturally occurring contrast agent or the blood oxygen level dependent (bold) effect. When neurons are active, increase in neuronal activity, there is an increase in blood flow. Indigenous contrast agent being measured in fmri. Allows the scanner to pick up changes in magnetic signal. Not actually measuring neurons blood flow is indicative of neuronal activity. Oxy = higher magnetic signal than de. Iron is causing an increase in magnetic signal and quantify that change. More oxy causes a change in magnetic signal. Average test- average control = brain activation unique to test (dependent on what is required for each condition control task is critical) Structural images = superimpose the data on an image. Task design is important induce a change in the person"s blood flow. Want to measure change by having blocks with two different condition.