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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Meaning

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique used in clinical and research settings to measure and map brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow. This methodology relies on the principle that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are intrinsically linked, allowing for the visualization of functional brain networks. In the hormonal health domain, fMRI is instrumental for investigating how hormones, such as sex steroids or cortisol, modulate specific brain regions involved in cognition, emotion, and behavior. The dynamic nature of this imaging provides insights into neuroendocrine regulation that structural scans cannot offer.