Table 1.

Exemplary advantages and disadvantages of common neurocognitive brain imaging techniques.

Technique	Advantages	Disadvantages
(f)MRI	very high spatial resolution (millimeters) whole brain coverage structural and functional data good source localization	relatively low temporal resolution (seconds) sensitivity to motion artifacts constraints on body position contraindications (e.g., heart pacemaker) expensive
fNIRS	relatively high temporal resolution (milliseconds) recording in natural body positions low sensitivity to motion artifacts portable inexpensive	low spatial resolution (centimeters) only cortical brain coverage influence of extra-cerebral hemodynamics influence of hair and skull characteristics
PET	high spatial resolution (millimeters) whole brain coverage metabolic data	low temporal resolution (seconds) injection of radioactive tracer expensive
EEG	very high temporal resolution (milliseconds) portable inexpensive	low spatial resolution sensitivity to environmental noise inverse problem of source localization time-consuming preparation
MEG	high temporal resolution (milliseconds) high spatial resolution (millimeters) good source localization	sensitivity to environmental noise contraindications (e.g., dental crowns) non-portable expensive

fMRI, fNIRS, and PET are hemodynamic techniques, EEG is an electrical technique and MEG is an electromagnetic technique. PET, Positron emission tomography; EEG, electroencephalography; MEG, Magnetoencephalography.