What’s it like getting a brain scan with us? Watch to find out below!
Forbow Brain Study from FORBOW on Vimeo.
The brain goes through a lot of development from childhood to adolescence and young adulthood. We are interesting in tracking that development and seeing how it relates to one’s experiences in life. In order to do that we are inviting individuals age 9 and up to come in to get pictures of their brains. Our research would not be possible without participation from volunteers in our community!
MRI
One of the best ways to get a brain image is through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI machine is like a camera that detects signals produced by your brain to make an image. MRI scanning is painless, safe, and does not involve x-ray radiation. It has been used on infants, seniors, and everyone in between. There are no known side effects.
What's it like getting a scan?
An expert MRI technician will go over a safety checklist and make sure you don’t have any metal on you. The scanner magnet is a bit more powerful than the fridge magnet at home, so we’d want to make sure that you don’t have any loose change on you, or other metals that might interfere with picture quality.
Once that’s done, you can lie down on the scanner bed. You will be provided a blanket for comfort, and a squeeze ball that you can squeeze at any time if you feel uncomfortable or want to stop the scan for any other reason. The technician will leave the room, but the scanner has a microphone, and you’ll be able to talk to the technician (or your parent) at any time. They will also be able to see you through a big window.
The scanner makes some weird noises that sound a little bit like modern electronic music mixed with construction sounds. That’s why headphones are provided. Many people report tuning out the noises and relaxing. Please try not to fall asleep. Depending on the study, you will either get to relax for half an hour and do nothing, or you might be asked to click a button every time you see different faces on the display in front of you.
Once that’s done you get the opportunity to see the pictures of your own brain and continue on your day having helped us better understand human brain development!
Once that’s done, you can lie down on the scanner bed. You will be provided a blanket for comfort, and a squeeze ball that you can squeeze at any time if you feel uncomfortable or want to stop the scan for any other reason. The technician will leave the room, but the scanner has a microphone, and you’ll be able to talk to the technician (or your parent) at any time. They will also be able to see you through a big window.
The scanner makes some weird noises that sound a little bit like modern electronic music mixed with construction sounds. That’s why headphones are provided. Many people report tuning out the noises and relaxing. Please try not to fall asleep. Depending on the study, you will either get to relax for half an hour and do nothing, or you might be asked to click a button every time you see different faces on the display in front of you.
Once that’s done you get the opportunity to see the pictures of your own brain and continue on your day having helped us better understand human brain development!
Tips
- In order to speed things up, remove any metal jewelry or piercings before coming.
- For best image quality, avoid hair products and fully dry your hair.
- Find a comfortable position in the scanner and try to stay in that position without moving too much, just as you would for a regular picture in order to avoid blurring.
- If you won’t be able to make it to your scheduled appointment, please call or email us to cancel at least 48 hours in advance, just as you would if you had an appointment with a very expensive photographer.
- You can eat or drink anything you like before or after the scan, there are no dietary restrictions or other preparations required.
