This lecture provides an overview of key imaging techniques in biopsychology, highlighting their principles, applications, and limitations. We will cover structural and functional approaches, including task-based and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional ultrasound, and optogenetic imaging. Students will explore what each technique measures—ranging from neural activity and connectivity to metabolic and molecular processes—along with practical applications in research and clinical contexts. Emphasis will also be placed on the methodological constraints and interpretational caveats associated with each approach. Participants will actively engage by preparing presentations summarizing the strengths, uses, and limitations of a selected imaging modality, fostering critical understanding of how these tools advance the study of brain function and behavior.
- Kursleiter/in: Mehdi Behroozi