Final answer:
Neuroscientists use fMRI, PET scans, EEG, neuromodulation methods, and neurofeedback to track and study neural activity during cognitive tasks, giving insights into memory and other cognitive functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neuroscientists studying memory have benefited greatly from the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other neuroimaging techniques, which allow the tracking of neural activity during cognitive tasks. fMRI provides a detailed map, showing which areas of the brain are most active by measuring changes in blood flow and oxygenation. Another valuable tool, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, although less detailed, also helps visualize brain activity by tracking a radioactive tracer in the bloodstream. Techniques like electroencephalography (EEG) offer a measure of the brain's electrical activity through an array of electrodes placed on the head. Additionally, neurofeedback, brain-computer interfaces, and neuromodulation methods such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial stimulation are other techniques used to understand and potentially enhance cognitive functions.