For Participants

Welcome to participate in the studies at the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging! This page contains information that we would like you to be aware of before you come to the Center to participate in an MRI experiment.

You may want to know that MRI is a very safe technology. The only real danger comes from the strength of the magnetic field in the scanner room if certain conditions exist for the experimental participants. This danger is easily dealt with by complying with precise exclusion criteria.

It is also important for you to know that although our research scans are not meant to be medically diagnostic, the first time that you participate in a MRI study you will be asked to give permission for us to send your brain images to an affiliated neuroradiologist for review. In the rare case where there is an incidentally detected abnormality, you or your designated physician will be notified by the neuroradiologist. If you participate in future experiments, additional medically diagnostic images will be obtained at yearly intervals.

If you have never been a subject before, you should know that you will have to remove all ferrous metal from your body before entering the scanner (meaning, most things that have iron in them). A few things to consider:

• It is a good idea not to wear eye makeup - tiny metal bits in mascara, for example, can move in the magnetic field and irritate your eyes.
• Some (mostly older) tattoos can tingle or burn with exposure to a strong magnetic field (if they have iron in the ink). We will not allow scanning if you have several such tattoos.
• Credit cards will be well and truly erased if they are brought into the magnet room. They will have to be left outside.
• Surgically implanted metal anywhere in your body but particularly in the head can pose a significant risk. It constitutes an exclusion factor.
• Dental work does not usually pose problems, but if you currently are having extensive orthodontist work, you should
  verify with your orthodontist that it is safe in the MRI environment.

For a more detailed review of possible safety concerns, please see the safety screening form. It saves you and the researcher time if you download it and read it ahead of time to identify if there are any items that you may circle "yes". When you arrive at Room 24A in the Psychology Building, you will be provided with this form and other forms. You are encouraged to ask questions before signing the forms in the presence of the researcher. We are located in the Psychology Building on the Ohio State University Columbus Campus. click here for a map.

Reminders for the day of the scan:
If you wear glasses (or contacts), you will probably need to remove them during the actual scan. We will provide you with MR compatible glasses to wear instead. Most people find it easier to remove their glasses than to take off contact lenses at the time of the scan.

• Please leave the eye makeup off.
• Avoid jewelries and clothing with metal on it - zippers are fine, but chains and underwire bra are not.