The activation of the brain is mirrored in the local changes in metabolism and hemodynamics (brit. haemodynamics). By using heavily T2 weighted scans activated brain areas show an increase in signal intensity as oxyhaemoglobin (brit. oxyhaemoglobin) is diamagnetic and deoxyhemoglobin (brit. deoxyhaemoglobin) is paramagnetic. Oxygen mapping will benefit from high field strength.

See also Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent Contrast, Haemoglobin, Perfusion Imaging, Diamagnetism, Paramagnetism.