Functional MRI at the crossroads

摘要: Since the observation of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) effect on measured MR signal in brain, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has rapidly become tool choice for exploring brain function cognitive neuroscience. Although fMRI is an exciting and powerful means to examining vivo, field sometimes permitted itself believe that patterns BOLD activity reveal more than it possible measure given method's spatial temporal sampling, while concurrently not fully amount information provides. In this article, we examine some constraints kinds inferences can be supported by fMRI. We critique concept reverse inference often employed claim must present a specific region. review consideration effective connectivity remain infrequently applied neuroimaging, highlighting recent thinking ways which used characterize inter-regional communication. Recent advances neuroimaging make assess anatomical using diffusion tensor (DTI) discuss how these may inform interpretation results. Descriptions studies media, instances, serve misrepresent fMRI's capabilities. comment researchers need faithfully represent promise limitations dealing with media. Finally, as stand at crossroads research, where one pathway leads toward rigorous understanding operations another us predictable collection observations absent clear insight, offer our impressions fruitful path future research.