Modern brain-imaging technology gives researchers the ability to view an active human brain, and the origins of specific brain processes to study localization of functions. In this, researchers are capable to further investigate relationships between biological factors and behavior. Written by: Us If you had 3D glasses, this would look amazing

 fMRI, “functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging” uses both MR imaging--which entails magnetic fields/radio waves to scan certain sections of the body,--and a mechanism known as the BOLD effect (Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent) to measure metabolic changes that occur when neural activity is increased, resulting in a higher demand for oxygen. The vascular system overcompensates by increasing oxygenated hemoglobin; the scan tracks the excess hemoglobin inside the brain.

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 PET, “Positron Emission Tomography,” is a technique that involves a small dose injection of radiotracer, a radioactive chemical, that’ll travel through the body and be absorbed by tissues and organs. The machine converts tracer energy into 3D images from tracer concentration within the body. These images can be examined to detect any anatomical complications.  CAT, “Computerized Axial Tomography,” is a medical x-ray procedure that takes x-ray images from many different angles. The data is then analyzed by a computer, which generates cross-sectional views of anatomical features inside the body.

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 In 1997, Raine, and Buchsbaum reported the findings of PET scans from murderers and control participants with mental disorders. Research showed a high correlation between traumatic brain injury and violence increase in criminal behavior. Areas of brain were measured during simple tasks and six parts of the brain were found to have metabolic abnormalities.

 In the late 1980’s researcher Pélagie M. Beeson, investigated the location and extent of brain damage in participants with aphasia, relative to their performance on verbal memory tasks. To determine the location of the brain damage, he examined participants' CAT scans, comparing lesion location.

 In 2010, UCLA neuro-scientists used fMRI scanning to predict behavior. They evaluated brain activity of people who watched public-service announcements pertaining to sunscreen. They focused on sections of the brain that focused on self-awareness; prefrontal cortex and the precuneus. 75% of the time, they were able to predict the usage of sunscreen.