Final answer:
fMRI measures brain activity by tracking blood flow and changes in oxygen consumption, creating a 3D map of active areas, while MRI provides high-resolution structural images of the brain without temporal brain activity information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are both advanced imaging techniques used in the medical field to study the brain. fMRI measures and maps brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. When a brain region is more active, it consumes more oxygen, and the hemoglobin in that area changes properties, which fMRI can detect and use to create a detailed 3D map of active brain regions. In contrast, standard MRI provides high-resolution images of the brain's structure but does not show temporal changes related to brain activity. MRI measures electromagnetic signals emitted by hydrogen atoms in the body's cells when they return to their original alignment after being disturbed by a powerful magnetic field.