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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions
Published on: July 6, 2011
fMRI in the public eye
Eric Racine1, Ofek Bar-Ilan, Judy Illes
1Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, 701 Welch Road, Building A, Suite 1105, Palo Alto, California 94304-5748, USA.
Abstract:
The wide dissemination and expanding applications of functional MRI have not escaped the attention of the media or discussion in the wider public arena. From the bench to the bedside, this technology has introduced substantial ethical challenges. Are the boundaries of what it can and cannot achieve being communicated to the public? Are its limitations understood? And given the complexities that are inherent to neuroscience, are current avenues for communication adequate?
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

