Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a neuroimaging technique used to map regions of activity in the brain. It makes use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, which use a combination of strong magnetic fields and radio waves to highlight different types of tissue in the body. “Functional” refers to the fact that fMRI tracks blood flow through the brain to identify which regions are functioning during a task. Thus, MRI provides a three-dimensional image of the structure of the brain, whereas fMRI provides information about which parts of the brain are involved in cognitive and behavioral processes. This technique is widely employed by researchers across all fields of psychology to understand the neural basis of typical and atypical behavior and cognition. This entry describes ...