Visit 3: MRI Scan
Once you're feeling comfortable with the mock scanner, we'll move on to the real MRI scanner
What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and is a technique that is commonly used by doctors and scientists to take pictures of the brain using magnetic fields and radio waves. It is a safe and non-invasive procedure that is routinely used with people of all ages. You can think of the MRI as a big and powerful magnet.
An MRI scanner looks like a large machine that has a tunnel in the center. Participants lie comfortably on a table that slides into the tunnel.
During the MRI scan, the MRI machine measures magnetic properties of water molecules. Your body and brain are full of water, and the MRI machine can create detailed pictures using these measurements. MRI scans are often used to take detailed, safe pictures of all different parts of the body, including the brain.
Examples of our control room and MRI scanner at Emory University
A picture from our control room where kids can pick the video they want to watch before their scan. Our research team is back here helping the MRI take pictures of your brain. We will be keeping an eye on you during the scan!
A picture of our real MRI scanner that takes pictures of your brain.
Why is staying still important?
Think about a camera...
When you take a picture using a camera, if you or the subject moves too much, the image can become blurry or difficult to see. The same holds true for a picture of your brain (see image to the left)! Since it can be challenging for some children to remain still inside of an MRI scanner, this can make it difficult to move forward with understanding the brain. With the study you will be participating in, all participants will complete a mock MRI training visit to build the skills and confidence you would need to practice remaining still inside that scanner so we can get a clear picture of your brain!
When we get clear pictures of the brain, our researchers can understand a bit more about how the brain processes social information in children with and without autism so we can work towards helping others in the future!
Where will my MRI take place?
Same location as the mock training visit!
Your MRI Scan will all occur at the Facility for Education & Research in Neuroscience (FERN).
Facility for Education & Research in Neuroscience (FERN)
Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies Building
Emory University
36 Eagle Row, Suite 180
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
Parking is available in the Peavine Parking Lot across from the building.
We will reach out with directions prior to your visit to help you along the way!
Click here to see the location on Google maps.
Is the MRI Safe? What are some things about it that I should be aware of?
MRIs are safe, non-invasive procedures that take pictures of the brain. They are generally safe for most people, but they aren't safe for kids that have heart pacemakers or certain metal in their body. The reason for this is that you think of the MRI like a strong magnet, where metal would pull closer to the scanner to attract. To reduce this risk, your caregiver and the study coordinator will complete safety questionnaires to ensure you are safe to be around the scanner. You and our team members complete the same safety screening questions, and you and the team will remove all metal from their clothing and pockets, as metal is not allowed in the scanning room! Please always stay with a member of our research team at all points when you are near the MRI.
Some common risks to note about MRIs are:
Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces): All the kids in the study complete a mock MRI training visit before their scan. This mock training should give you a good idea of what it feels like to be inside the tunnel of the scanner. If you feel significant discomfort when being inside the MRI scanner, please alert our team so they are aware. Because our study is voluntary, we want to make sure you are comfortable throughout the experience--you do not need to do any study activities that make you uncomfortable.
Tired: Some kids may feel a little sleepy during or after the experience of an MRI, and that is completely normal! We do encourage you to try to stay awake as best as you can while the scanner is taking pictures of your brain. If we notice you are sleepy inside the scanner, we may pull you out of the scanner so you can stretch and wake up a bit more before trying again.
Volume of MRI: MRIs make beeping sounds that could be loud for some kids. The noises that the scanner makes are normal. Similar to when you take a picture on a camera you can hear the click sound that the camera snapped the photo, the same goes for the MRI scanner--except it is a constant sound since it is taking several pictures of your brain at once (pretty neat!). All our kids will wear headphones while they are in the scanner to help reduce the outside scanning sounds. If your headphone accidentally falls out or if you need help adjusting us, just alert one of our team member to let us know! To hear some examples of sounds the MRI scanner makes, please select the tab above "What to Expect for MRI Scan".
FAQ
How do I prepare my child for a Pediatric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
Studies show that children and parents cope better with medical procedures when they are prepared ahead of time. We recommend that you talk to your child about what to expect prior to his or her scheduled appointment using the tips and information below. Talking to children before allows them a few days to process the information and ask any questions to better understand what to expect. Although the procedure is not painful, sometimes children feel nervous when they don’t know what to expect or are doing something new for the first time
What are the prep instructions before a Pediatric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
Be honest and provide simple explanations about what to expect. It can be helpful for children to know what they will see, feel, and hear during procedures. See above for more info about what to expect!
Allow your child to ask questions about the upcoming experience.
If you do not know how to answer your child’s questions, it’s okay to say, “I don’t know.
Write down any questions you want to ask before the procedure or give our research team a call
Practice makes perfect! It’s very important for your child to remain still during the pictures. See our Preparing for Your Visit page for games you can use to practice!
I don’t think my child will remain still for an MRI scan; would they still be a good fit for this study?
Yes, they would still be a good fit for this study! For children who may struggle to remain still during the scan procedure, the brain images can become distorted when the individual moves and the motion may result in the images being unusable. Our study aims to reduce some of the motion in the scanner by first practicing in a mock MRI scanner. During the mock scanner training visit, children will experience the simulated environment of the scanner as well as the sounds, while watching movies like those in a real experimental scan.
Is the MRI open or closed?
The MRI scanner that we use for our study is a closed machine.
Do we use contrast dye for our MRI scans?
We do not!
What if I want to stop or get out of the scanner?
You can stop or get out of the scanner at any time. If you are uncomfortable before or during the scan, just let our research team know and we will stop everything.
Can my child take breaks throughout the scan visit?
Your child can absolutely take a break throughout the scan or clinical assessment visit. When you would like to take a break, let our research team or your caregiver know that you wish to take a break.
What happens if you see something worrisome on my child’s brain scan?
This MRI study is for research purposes only. It is not a clinical examination and the scans done for this study are not designed for clinical testing. As a result, they will not be made available for diagnostic purposes. Our experimenters are not qualified to interpret clinical scans and are not able to provide a diagnostic evaluation of the scans. That type of scan would be conducted only by a medically-licensed Radiologist and would be a clinical, rather than research, scan.
However, if the experimenter sees anything concerning on your child’s scan, the experimenter will ask a licensed Radiologist to review the brain scan images. If the Radiologist is concerned or recommends another scan for more information, a clinician or coordinator from our study team will contact you. They will tell you about the finding and recommend that you seek medical advice as a precautionary measure. The decision for additional examination or treatment would lie solely with you and your child’s physician.
What if I have other questions or concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Sydney Messer at Sydney.messer [at] choa.org or (404) 785-3932.
Can I stay with my child during the scan?
You are welcome to stay in the MRI room with your child at all times, and we encourage it, provided that you have no metal in or on your body that would make it unsafe for you to enter the scanner room. We will ask you a series of questions to screen you for metal. If you are able to enter the scanner room, you are welcome to do so. A trained experimenter will also remain in the room to monitor your child and the scan closely at all times.
On the Left side, we've taken a single brain image and moved each 'slice' a little bit each time. Then, we put the 'slices' together. The MRI takes images of your brain just like these 'slices', so by moving them around, we can guess what it's like when someone moves in the MRI machine.
On the Right side, we've shown a small piece of each added brain 'slice'. Even though the images are exactly the same and each 'slice' hasn't moved much, when we try zooming in, things can look very different. Try scrolling through the images below to see how this one spot can look very different because of motion.
