Speech Research Laboratory - Northwestern University

Home

Projects

Publications

Media

People

Participate

MRI

Jobs

Links

scanner

Information for MRI Study Participants

What is an MRI?
Who should NOT participate?
What should I do on the day of my scan?
Where do I go on the day of my scan?
What will happen during my scanning session?
What is it like inside the scanner?
Whom should I contact if I have other questions or if I want to sign up?

What is an MRI?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a technique for taking pictures of the inside of your body without using radiation. MRI images are made by placing the body in a strong magnetic field using a scanner.

The MRI images we take are for research purposes only, and should not be used to diagnose medical conditions.

Here's a useful website if you would like more information on what MRI is:
http://www.cis.rit.edu/htbooks/mri/

Who should NOT participate?

Although MRI is a safe and noninvasive method for looking inside the body, you should not participate in a research MRI scan if:

You have any metal implanted in your body, such as:

a piercing which cannot be removed
a permanent retainer
a cochlear implant
a pacemaker
an aneurysm clip or other surgically implanted metal
replacement joints
screws from a broken bone

You are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
You have worked with metal, such as welding, or if there may be metal flakes in your eye.
You are claustrophobic or afraid of spending a long time in a close space (such as inside the scanner).
Loud noise causes pain in your ears.

We have an extensive screening form to make sure participating in an MRI study will be safe for you. If you have any questions about whether you should participate in an MRI study, please contact Patrick Wong, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator) at pwong@northwestern.edu

What should I do on the day of my scan?

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for an MRI. Feel free to go about your daily activities as usual.

It is a good idea not to have a big meal or a lot to drink in the time immediately before the scan. This is because you will have to lie in the scanner for about an hour, and it may be uncomfortable if you get indigestion or need to use the bathroom.

On the day of the scan, do not engage in illegal drug use or drink alcohol. Please also do not drink more (or less) than your usual intake of caffeine.

When you get to the scanning facility, you will change into a hospital gown. You may keep your underwear on, unless they have any metal (e.g. an underwire in your bra). Because you will have to change clothing, you may want to wear something easy to change into / out of.

Where do I go on the day of my scan?

Our scans are conducted at the Northwestern University Chicago Campus Center for Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CAMRI). The CAMRI facility is located in the Olson Pavilion at 710 North Fairbanks Court, at the corner of Fairbanks and Superior Street(map).

If you're coming by car:
Take Lake Shore Drive to the Chicago Ave exit. Go west on Chicago Ave for 1 Block. At the first traffic light (Fairbanks Ct.) take a left (south). At the second stop sign, turn right (west) onto Huron St. Park in the hospital lot on the right. Exit the parking structure using the Huron St. elevators. Upon exiting the structure, walk left (east on Huron St.). Take a left on the first street (Fairbanks Ct.) The facility is located in the first building on your left. Enter using the revolving door.

At the scan, you will be given a sticker to attach to your parking ticket that allows you to leave the parking structure without paying. Please let us know at least 48 hours in advance if require a visitor's parking pass for the hospital lot; otherwise we may not have parking stickers available.

If you're coming by CTA:
Get to the Chicago stop on the Red Line and walk east (about 3 blocks) until you reach Fairbanks Ct. Turn right on Fairbanks. The building is between Superior St. and Huron St. and will be on the right (west). Enter the revolving door.

If you're coming by Intercampus Shuttle:
Take the Intercampus Shuttle from Evanston to the Ward Building (the Chicago campus stop). Exit the bus and turn right (west) to Fairbanks Ct. Turn left (south) on Fairbanks and cross Superior St. The Olson Pavilion is on the south-west corner of Superior and Fairbanks.

Once you reach the facility:
Go in the revolving door, tell the receptionist you are there for MRI research and sign in. Take the elevators down to the Basement level. Take a right out of the elevators, then turn right again. Turn right again when you see a sign that says "MRI Research." There is a single wooden door with a doorbell; ring it to let the experimenters know you are there.

Please be at the scanning facility promptly at the time you arrange with the experimenters. Plan on being there for about two hours, though you'll probably only be in the scanner itself for about an hour.

If you have any questions or problems before the day of the scan, please call the Speech Research Lab at 847-491-2430 or Patrick Wong, PhD (Principal Investigator) at 847-491-2416. If you need to contact the experimenters within an hour of your scheduled scanning time, call the CAMRI facility directly at 312-926-9975.

What will happen during my scanning session?

Typically, when you arrive at the scanning facility, you will fill out some paperwork, including a consent form, an MRI pre-screening form, and a form advising you of your privacy rights. We ask that you arrive a few minutes early to fill out the paperwork.

After the paperwork is filled out, you will change into a hospital gown. You may keep your underwear on, unless they have any metal (e.g. an underwire in your bra). This makes sure that any metal on your clothing (buttons, zippers, etc) does not affect the scanner. Lockers with locks are provided to store your possessions while you are in the scanner.

You may perform a practice task on a computer or fill out additional questionnaires before you get into the scanner for your session.

We will give you headphones that block out the scanner noise and play the sounds you will listen to. We will keep your head secured using foam pads and a headrest. Because you have to lie very still for about an hour, we will make sure you are as comfortable as possible when you get into the scanner. You will get a cushion beneath your knees and a sheet to keep you from getting chilly. In one hand will hold a squeeze-ball that allows you to communicate with the researchers during the scanning session. In the other hand you may hold response buttons.

After you are in the scanner, there will be at least three parts to your scanning session. During the first part, the scanner will make intermittent noise as it aligns itself to take the pictures. You do not have to do anything during this part except hold very still. This part will last only a few minutes.

The second part will involve doing a task. This task may include listening to speech sounds, music, or other sounds. Depending on the study, you may be looking at pictures or keeping your eyes closed. You may or may not be responding to the pictures / sounds by pushing buttons with your fingers. This part will usually last from 20 to 50 minutes, depending on the particular study. (We will let you know when we schedule your session how long the task will be.) Frequently, the sounds you are listening to will stop, and the scanner will make a loud noise for about 2 seconds. This is when the scanner is taking pictures.

During the third part, we will take high resolution anatomical pictures of your brain. This part lasts for about 10 minutes. When we are taking these pictures, the scanner will constantly be making noise. You will not have to do anything particular during this part except hold very still. You may daydream or even sleep if you like!

Depending on your study, there may be additional parts of the scanning session. Before each part begins, we will let you know what to expect and what you have to do.

After your scan is complete, we will take you out of the scanner, and you may change back into your regular clothes. You may be asked to perform a follow-up task at a computer terminal, or fill out an after-scanning questionnaire.

You will receive a cash payment of $25 at the end of your scanning session.

What is it like inside the scanner?

Inside the scanner you will be lying on your back facing up. You will have headphones that block the scanner noise as well as play the sounds you will listen to. Your head will be held in place by foam pads and the scanner's head coil. A sheet will cover your legs to keep you from getting chilly, and a foam pad will be beneath your knees for your comfort. For some tasks you will be asked to keep your eyes closed. Other times you may be looking at pictures. There is a small mirror in front of your eyes that will allow you to see the pictures projected on a screen behind the scanner.

In your right hand, you will hold response buttons. The researchers will let you know what to do with them during each task. In your left hand you will hold an emergency squeeze-ball. Squeezing this ball will allow you to contact the researchers when the scanner is making noise.

When the scanner is quiet, the researchers can hear you from microphones in the scanner, and you can hear them over the headphones. However, when the scanner is taking pictures it will make loud noises. The earphones will muffle the noise for you, but the researchers will not be able to hear what you say. If you need to get in contact with them, you can squeeze the squeeze-ball, and they will stop the scanner and talk to you.

The scanner makes a variety of noises. In some cases the scanner will make a humming or clicking sound. Other times the scanner will make banging or buzzing noises.

Whom should I contact if I have other questions or if I want to sign up?

If you are going to participate in an MRI experiment, and have a question, please contact the researcher you have been corresponding with, or Patrick Wong, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator) at pwong@northwestern.edu.

If you would like to sign up for an MRI experiment, please e-mail hearingbrain@northwestern.edu.

(Some questions or answers adapted from the Reber Laboratory, NU Dept. of Psychology)

The MRI images we take are for research purposes only, and should not be used to diagnose medical conditions.