The Last Frontier : Unraveling the Secrets of the Brain Using Magnetic Resonance

Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is fast gaining ground as a non-invasive technique for neuroimaging. The method can capture images of the human brain in real time while the subject carries out a cognitive task. This research area is still in its infancy but has immense possibilities to explore the secrets of the human brain, intelligence and thought processes. This article explains the physics behind the fMRI method and describes several studies which use fMRI to explore different facets of the human brain such as learning mathematics, and the deep connections between music and cognitive processes.