hemodynamic response

The hemodynamic response refers to how blood flow in the brain changes when a specific area is active. When neurons in that area work harder, they need more oxygen and nutrients, so blood flow increases to supply them. This process causes measurable changes in blood oxygen levels and volume, which can be detected using imaging techniques like fMRI. Essentially, the hemodynamic response is the brain's way of adjusting blood supply to meet the demands of active regions, allowing researchers to identify which parts of the brain are involved in different tasks.