Mapping context and content: the BrainMap model

Functional brain imaging can be used to map the neural systems that underlie human behaviour. To probe the intrinsic complexity of the human mind and brain, a large repertoire of highly sophisticated behavioural challenges are used in imaging research. In patterns as varied and complex as the behaviours by which they are elicited, activations are reported in any and all brain areas. Describing this experimental corpus by context and content is the logical prelude to any attempt to interpret, compare or combine data across studies or centres.