In clinical psychology, fMRI measures brain activity by detecting blood flow changes and is used to study neural correlates of disorders and treatment effects, mainly in research. Which option matches?

• A. It measures electrical activity of individual neurons in real time.
• B. It diagnoses all psychiatric disorders with high precision.
• C. It studies neural correlates of disorders and treatment effects, mainly in research.
• D. It replaces behavioral assessments in therapy.

Answer: (C)

fMRI measures brain activity indirectly by detecting changes in blood flow, using the BOLD signal as a proxy for neural activity. This allows researchers to map which brain regions are involved during tasks or in response to treatment. In clinical psychology, the technique is used to study neural correlates of disorders and how treatments may alter brain function, rather than serving as a diagnostic tool or a replacement for behavioral assessments. The other statements misrepresent fMRI: it does not record electrical activity of individual neurons in real time, it is not a precise diagnostic tool for all psychiatric conditions, and it does not replace behavioral assessments in therapy. Therefore, the option that describes studying neural correlates of disorders and treatment effects, mainly in research, best fits.