A scan that shows brain activity by measuring blood flow is?

• A. Interventional X-rays
• B. Medical Technology
• C. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
• D. Telemedicine

Answer: (C)

The main idea is imaging brain function by tracking changes in blood flow that occur with neural activity. Functional MRI uses strong magnetic fields to detect the brain’s hemodynamic response: when a region becomes active, it receives more blood, changing the balance of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin and altering the MRI signal. This allows mapping of active areas across the brain during tasks, without using radiation or injected tracers.

Interventional X-rays focus on structural imaging and guiding procedures with X-rays, not on measuring brain activity. Telemedicine refers to remote clinical services, not imaging. The term “medical technology” is too broad and doesn’t specify functional brain imaging. So this scan best described is functional MRI, which specifically captures brain activity through blood flow.