MRI Studies

Most MRI studies last 3-4 hours total (1-2 hours in the scanner itself) and involve the same type of tasks undertaken in the behavioral studies: simply viewing words or pictures on a screen and responding with corresponding button presses. Before beginning the MRI experiment, you will fill out informed consent and screening forms. The experimenter will explain these in detail and answer any questions you may have regarding the task or the scanner itself. When you are ready to begin the experiment, the researchers will have you lie down on a bed outside of the scanner and insert foam earplugs. Your head will be positioned inside a headcoil, and padding will be placed around it for comfort and stability. You will be given a response button box in one hand and an emergency squeeze ball in the other. Goggles placed over your eyes will allow you to view the stimulus screen. Once set, the bed will move into the scanner and the experiment will begin. Throughout the scanning session you will be in full contact with the experimenters through a two-way intercom system.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an MRI study you must:

• be 18–30 years of age
  
• be right-handed
  
• be a native English speaker (having learned English by age 6)
  
• have at least a high school diploma

In addition, you must NOT:

• have any history of, or be taking medication for, psychiatric disorders or diseases (e.g., depression, anxiety, or mood disorders), or neurological disorders or diseases (e.g., stroke, head injury, epilepsy, seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, Parkinson's Disease)
  
• have high blood pressure not controlled by medication
  
• have diagnosis or suspicion of dyslexia or a learning disability
  
• be claustrophobic
  
• have difficulty lying on your back in the same position for 2 hours
  
• weigh over 225 lbs
  
• have any metal pins, plates, prostheses, or implanted devices in your body such as: cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, insulin or infusion pump, cochlear, otologic, or ear implant, any implant held in place by a magnet, tissue expanders (plastic surgery), implanted catheter, clamp, clips, valves, or other metal, shrapnel or metal fragments
  
• have ever worked with metal (grinding, fabricating, etc.) or had metal fragments enter your eye
  
• have any non-removable body piercing
  
• have tattoos with metallic ink, tattoos or permanent make-up above the shoulders
  
• be pregnant (females participating in MRI studies will be required to take a pregnancy test)

Note: Dental fillings and crowns are acceptable.

Please contact Aron K. Barbey (Barbey@Illinois.edu) if you would like to learn more about our current MRI studies and are potentially interested in participating.

How MRI works

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a tool we use to image the brain while it is performing a cognitive task. This allows us to detect the location and magnitude of brain activity involved in the various types of cognitive functions we study. MRI allows us to view and record the changes in your brain activity during the time you are in the scanner.

Images are acquired using a combination of very powerful magnets and radio waves that alter the position of atoms in the body so that they reflect back a signal that is interpreted to show the composition of tissue (brain anatomy) or the amount of blood flow (brain activity).

The following link explains this procedure in greater detail: Howstuffworks.com’s MRI explanation

Risks & Benefits

MRIs are non-invasive and do not involve any X-rays, radiation, or injections. Currently there are no known risks from exposure to the magnetic fields and radio waves used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging; however it is not assured that harmful effects will not be recognized in the future. One known risk is that strong magnetic fields attract iron or steel metal objects, posing a safety risk. Prior to entering the scanner you will be given a questionnaire to determine if you have any foreign metal objects in your body such as a pacemaker, shrapnel, metal plate, etc. (see eligibility above).

There is also a small risk of discomfort from claustrophobia, periods of immobility, and exposure to the noise of the magnet. To avoid these risks we screen people who are (or think they might be) claustrophobic, or would have trouble lying still on their back for 2 hours. In addition, all participants are required to wear ear plugs while inside the scanner.

Finally, as the magnet could potentially have an adverse effect on an unborn child, this research should not be undertaken if pregnant. Women of child-bearing age are required to have a pregnancy test conducted within 72 hours prior to their scan. That test will be conducted at the University of Illinois, and you will be additionally compensated for the time taken for the pregnancy test.

The research will benefit our knowledge about the function of the human brain. In addition, you will be compensated for your participation time.