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Neuroimaging techniques reveal brain activity patterns from "summary" of Fundamentals of Cognitive Neuroscience by Nicole M. Gage,Bernard Baars
Neuroimaging provides a window into the dynamic activities of the brain, illuminating how various regions activate in response to cognitive tasks. Techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) track blood flow and metabolic changes, correlating these shifts with mental processes. fMRI, for instance, capitalizes on the hemodynamic response: when neurons become active, they demand more oxygen, prompting an increase in blood flow to that area. This change can be mapped, allowing researchers to visualize which parts of the brain engage during specific cognitive functions. Patterns of activation are not random; they reveal the underlying architecture of cognitive tasks. A visual stimulus, for example, may activate the occipital lobe, while decision-making processes might engage the prefrontal cortex. Such patterns can be compared across different conditions to discern how tasks are pro...
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