Functional Activation

Functional activation refers to the process of measuring changes in brain activity when a person performs a specific task or experiences a particular stimulus. Techniques like fMRI track blood flow in the brain, highlighting areas that become more active during these activities. When a region of the brain is engaged, it consumes more oxygen, leading to increased blood flow, which imaging captures. This helps researchers and clinicians understand how different parts of the brain work together to support various functions such as thinking, moving, or sensing. Essentially, it's a way to visualize which brain regions are involved in specific tasks.