[Fishing-guy]

Functional MRI is more advanced that standard MRI. It allows radiologists to see which parts of the brain are actively consuming sugar (functioning, I guess) while doing some specific tasks.

This will allow scientists to tell which specific parts of the brain are designed to do which specific tasks.

[neverdem]

PET scans use radio-active labelled glucose, IIRC. INTRODUCTION The recent discovery that magnetic resonance imaging can be used to map changes in brain hemodynamics that correspond to mental operations extends traditional anatomical imaging to include maps of human brain function. The ability to observe both the structures and also which structures participate in specific functions is due to a new technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI, and provides high resolution, noninvasive reports of neural activity detected by a blood oxygen level dependent signal (Ogawa, et al, 1990 a and b, 1992, 1993; Belliveau, et al, 1990, 1991). This new ability to directly observe brain function opens an array of new opportunities to advance our understanding of brain organization, as well as a potential new standard for assessing neurological status and neurosurgical risk. The following briefly introduces the fundamental principles of fMRI, current applications at Columbia, and some potential future directions.