Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is based on image contrast due to hemodynamic responses indirectly reflecting neuronal activity (Logothetis & Pfeuffer, 2004). Changes in cerebral blood flow are related to increased or decreased energy utilization by brain cells (Logothetis, Pauls, Augath, Trinath, & Oeltermann, 2001). The fMRI blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal has been used in alcoholics to explore functional brain activity related to cue reactivity, craving, impulsivity, self-control, and to determine baseline synchrony between brain areas at rest (i.e., resting-state fMRI).
