This is an era of high technology and high range medical facilities. Our medical field has achieved many solutions to incurable diseases. One of the credits of this improvement also goes to the technology factor, which is providing the latest machine to determine the internal problems of the body.
One of these high utility machines is an MRI machine. And due to up-gradation, a new machine called fMRI is developed. So here are a few differences between MRI and fMRI.
MRI vs fMRI
The main difference between MRI and fMRI is that they are used for different purposes.MRI is used to determine the anatomical structure of the brain, and fMRI is used to detect the metabolic function of the brain. The fMRI investigates the blood vessels and also finds out the level of oxygen in the brain.
MRI machine is used to detect any dysfunctionality or disorder in the brain. The CT scan sometimes fails to detect the problem, so MRI was introduced to overcome the problem. The full form of MRI is Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI machine uses both magnetic and electrical signals to find the disputes.
fMRI is a highlight to the MRI technology. This is also used to find the dispute or disorder in the brain. The full form of fMRI is Functional Magnetic Resonance Investigation. But this machine works in a more deep investigation. This machine goes to the blood vessels and finds out the metabolic functions going on. If there is some problem, it highlights that.
Comparison Table Between MRI and fMRI
| Parameters of Comparison | MRI | fMRI |
| Used for determining | Anatomical structure | Metabolic function |
| Studies were done | To calculate the water molecule’s hydrogen nuclei. | To calculate the level of oxygen. |
| Ability to observe | Type of tissues with respect to space | The difference in tissues with respect to time to time changes |
| Introduced in market | Already introduced and in applications. | Not yet introduced |
| Cost effective | Less costly | High cost |
What is MRI?
MRI machine is used to detect any dispute or disorder in the brain. The CT scan sometimes fails to detect the problem, so MRI was introduced to overcome the problem. The full form of MRI is Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI machine uses both magnetic and electrical signals to find the disputes.
In case if the CT scan is not able to find the disorder, an MRI scan is referred to find it. The MRI has a high spatial resolution. It is able to find the disputes more accurately than CT scans. So nowadays, if there is any small disorder that comes up, the first advice by the doctors is to have an MRI scan. It is very successful in finding the problems which may be cured by the medical faculties if timely found.
The MRI works on an anatomical basis. It is helpful in finding the anatomical problems which are not visible with the naked eyes. The MRI machine calculates the water molecule’s hydrogen nuclei to find the disorders. It mainly approaches to find the types of tissues in the brain with respect to space. The MRI machine is low cost and is affordable for normal people to get the reports of the scan.
What is fMRI?
FMRI is a highlight to the MRI technology. This is also used to find the dispute or disorder in the brain. The full form of FMRI is Functional Magnetic Resonance Investigation. But this machine works in a more deep investigation. This machine goes to the blood vessels and finds out the metabolic functions going on. If there is some problem, it highlights that.
FMRI is the latest technological machine after MRI to scan the human brain and finding the disorders correctly. But it is not yet introduced in the market due to its high price. FMRI mainly goes to the blood vessels and finds if there is any disorder in the metabolic functions of the cells there. It scans the tissues with respect to time to see the changes in them. It mainly detects the oxygen level in the blood vessels in the tissues.
These are some factors on which the FMRI machine depends to get the correct information out. The FMRI machine is still in use for experimental purposes. As this machine scans the brain to the inside of the tissues, it needs high technological facilities. This consists of much more hardware and software to be installed in it, which in turn brings the price more. So it is more costly with respect to the MRI machine.
Main Differences Between MRI and fMRI
- MRI is used to determine the anatomical structure of the brain, but the fMRI is used to find the metabolic function of the brain.
- MRI calculates the water molecule hydrogen nuclei, and the fMRI calculates the level of oxygen.
- MRI has the ability to observe the types of tissues of the brain with respect to space. On the other hand, the fMRI differentiates the tissues with respect to the change in time.
- MRI is already introduced in the market and is widely used, but the fMRI is not yet introduced in the market and is only used for experiments.
- The MRI machine cost is less than compared to the fMRI machine. The fMRI machine needs some extra hardware and software to work.
Conclusion
Both these machines are used to scan the human brain and find the disorders. They have their advantages and disadvantages but may not be compared with each other as their type of working is different. FMRI is not as popular as MRI but building its base to be introduced in the market.
The FMRI is more useful and is expected to be at the peak of the medical world. It is more appropriate and accurate to seek the healthy condition of the main part of the human body. After the emergence of MRI, the use of CT scans is reduced. But to find the minor disorders still, now CT scan is preferred. fMRI is the updated version of the MRI machine.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/4472246/
- https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-00647-001