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What is an MRI?
What is an MRI?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
The machine looks like a giant donut with a bed that slides in and out.
The donut part of the machine can take pictures of the inside of your body by using very strong magnets.
The pictures come out as different slices of your body. Think of this like each photo being one slice of bread that makes up a whole loaf.
Getting an MRI is completely safe. Unlike some other forms of imaging, it uses no unsafe radiation when taking your picture.
What to Expect When Getting an MRI
What to Expect When Getting an MRI
Remember:
Try to be as still as possible. If you move the image will come out blurry.
Don't bring any metal into the MRI room. The giant magnet will pull the metal off you, and flying metal is very dangerous.
Getting an MRI may be loud, but you're safe. The machine won't touch you—other than the bed you lie on!
Feel free to bring a comfort item, but don't bring a DVD; we have videos to watch.
To get an even better idea of what getting a research MRI is like, you can watch the video below from the Alberta Children's Hospital. The research MRI we will use in the PYLoT study looks like a rocket ship!
Why do we use MRI for Brain Scanning?
Why do we use MRI for Brain Scanning?
Brain Structure
Brain Structure
MRI lets us see the shape of the brain. When we look at an MRI scan, different parts of the brain have different levels of brightness, ranging from black to white. This lets us know where all the different parts are!
Brain Development
Brain Development
When we compare old and new MRI scans from the same person, we can see how their brain is changing! This lets us study how aging, learning, and different neurodevelopmental diagnoses impact the brain.
Brain Connections
Brain Connections
Using a special type of MRI called functional MRI (fMRI), we can see the activity inside the brain. Studying this lets us understand what happens in the brain that allows us to move, learn, and think.
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