A non-invasive methodological possibility for brain stimulation through the simultaneous use of an external energy beam and an existing brain imaging system such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is herein proposed; the main advantage is to confine the stimulation into a single brain area, avoiding unintentional stimulation of adjoining brain regions, thus, allowing for deep brain stimulation. The methodological possibility is to be used for research, treatment and diagnosis of neurological, cognitive and neurophysiologic disorders. The method includes the simultaneous steps of applying focused thermal energy stimulation within a living brain, and monitoring such stimulation using MRI thermometry images; in addition, it includes the detection of stimulated neuronal impulses by its potentially effects in the blood oxygenation level (BOLD) fMRI response signal.