functional magnetic resonance imaging

noun

: magnetic resonance imaging used to detect physical changes (as of blood flow) in the brain resulting from increased neuronal activity

called also functional MRI

Examples of functional magnetic resonance imaging in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the course of two days, Becker had study participants lie in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner, which detects blood flow in the brain as a proxy for neural activity, and view a series of 120 Mooney images. —Nora Bradford, Quanta Magazine, 5 Nov. 2025

Of our participants, 35 agreed to be scanned with a form of brain imaging called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) both before and after the birth of their child. —Anthony Vaccaro, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2025

Their brains are working harder to distinguish speech from noise, and that activity can be seen in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. —Eva Amsen, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to record brain activity, Yanagisawa and his colleagues studied the medial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in emotions and planning for the future. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for functional magnetic resonance imaging

• neuroimaging

Medical Definition

functional magnetic resonance imaging

noun

: magnetic resonance imaging used to demonstrate correlations between physical changes (as in blood flow) in the brain and mental functioning (as in performing cognitive tasks)

—abbreviation fMRI

called also functional MRI