Preparing for an experiment

Question 1

Instructions to give to participant prior to their apointment

Answer 1

• wear or bring a plain (long sleeve) T-shirt and (cotton) sweat pants to the experiment
• leave all jewelry including piercings at home
• do not use any mascara.
• Inform participants about the information they have to give of their general practitioner and that they have to give their BSN. This is also described in the general information folder. If they are not willing to give these types of information they are not allowed to be scanned.

Question 2

Describe the MR screening procedure

Answer 2

• The screening process takes place in the waiting or preparation areas.
• A completed and approved screening form is required for all persons to continue to the MR control room.
  (This includes colleagues, people accompanying the subject and guests. Preferably, companions stay in the waiting area)
• The completed form should be interactively reviewed with the subject by the designated MR operator.
  (The annotated version can be found on the MRI Teams page. If you cannot find it, please ask the MR safety officer)
• If you have any doubts concerning MRI compatibility of your subject contact the MR safety officer. If you are not sure and no MRI staff is around, do not scan this participant (or find another participant)

Question 3

3 steps of informing participants

Answer 3

1. Give all participants (experienced or not, in time or too late) the opportunity to read the general information folder about MRI.
2. All participants need to complete an Informed Consent General Practitioner, Screening form and a project specific informed consent before participation.
3. Summarize the content of your information letter.

Question 4

6 things to inform the particpant of regarding the MR

Answer 4

Inform the subject that:
1. The MRI scanner is a strong magnet; hence they have to remove all objects from their body to prevent things flying into the scanner
2. The MRI scanner makes a loud noise; hence they will have to put in ear plugs and will additionally wear headphones which are also used for communication
3. The MRI scanner makes detailed images of the body, so they have to lie very still for the images to be sharp.
4. While scanning it is important that the participants do not cross their arms or legs
5. Verbal communication with the MR operator is only possible in between scans, for this reason the subject is provided with an alarm bell.
6. They have the right to abandon the experiment at any time without giving any reason.

Question 5

Examples of things participants need to remove before entering the scanner room

Answer 5

• Anything they might have in their pockets
  Hair clips and elastic bands, watch, jewelry (including piercings) and belt
• Sweater with zipper (because of artefacts)
• Underwired bra
• Shoes
• Glasses (Participants wearing glasses can use the MR compatible glasses. Reserve some time to test them)
  Also:
• If subjects arrive with wet clothes or clothes that leave a lot of skin uncovered (tops, shorts) provide them with a T-shirt and/or pants. These can be found in the pantry of the control room.

Question 6

What should you say to participants with tattoos or other permanent consmetics?

Answer 6

that there is a [exceedingly] small chance it will contain some metal, which might cause a temperature increase in the tissue. Instruct them to push the alarm bell as soon as they feel a tingling or burning sensation at the site of the tattoo.

Question 7

Scanner room preparation procedure

Answer 7

If possible, prepare the scanner room before the arrival of your participant, or while the participant is in the waiting room.
1. Place paper on the table and in the coil.

2. Put earplugs and hair net on the table.
3. Position / switch on any of the following: button boxes, electrical stimulator, respiratory belt, PPU, eye tracker, and/or brain products device
4. Make sure you use the correct RF coil and it is plugged in properly
5. Make sure you use the correct mirror (as there is one specifically intended for use with the eye tracker).
6. Enter your subject into the administration before placing him/her in the scanner
7. Participants wearing glasses can use the MR compatible glasses. Reserve some time to test them. They can’t participate with their own glasses as it will cause artifacts.