Neuroimaging Research Information Package

Transcription

1 Neuroimaging Research Information Package Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in collaboration with The Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital

2 Neuroimaging Research at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre The Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre (WBIC), located at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, is one of the foremost brain imaging centres in Britain. The WBIC has modern facilities for recently developed brain scanning techniques which enable the activity of the normal brain to be imaged. These sophisticated imaging facilities provide researchers with a valuable new tool for learning about how the brain works and how it may be affected by various diseases. Researchers at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit are collaborating with colleagues at the WBIC on long-term neuroimaging research programs aimed at increasing our scientific knowledge of how the brain processes various types of information, and particularly which brain structures are involved. Currently, we have research projects investigating aspects of language, memory, attention, and emotion. While providing an important window into normal brain function, these neuroimaging research programs also play a very important role in furthering our scientific understanding of a range of medical conditions which affect the brain, such as depression, schizophrenia, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Why Volunteer? There are a number of reasons why someone might choose to take part in neuroimaging research: The neuroimaging research contributed to will help further our scientific understanding of medical conditions which affect the brain. Volunteers can see scans of their brain, including a coloured fmri or PET scan showing which areas of the brain were active during the tasks they performed while being scanned. Volunteers will also be given an MRI scan (looks like a black-and-white photograph) of their brain to take away. Volunteers will receive 25 for taking part in a PET study and 10 per hour for taking part in an fmri study, plus travelling expenses.

3 Brain scans explained Researchers at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit use three different types of brain scan which vary both in technology used and whether they provide information about brain structure or function. Sometimes different scans are used in conjunction with each other. Each of the relevant scans is briefly described below: MRI SCANS Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning provides a means of seeing the detailed structure of the brain without using x-rays. MRI utilises a powerful but harmless magnetic field in order to produce a map of the water concentrations in the brain. Because different types of tissue have different water concentrations, when these are mapped in varying shades of grey different structures of the brain become visible. fmri SCANS Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fmri) scanning uses essentially the same technology as MRI. By using different data acquisition and processing techniques, however, fmri enables researchers to measure the blood flow to different areas of the brain, which provides a measure of how active various brain structures are during the scan. By performing MRI and fmri scans concurrently, both the structure and the activity of the brain can be imaged at the same time. PET SCANS Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning also measures the blood flow in the brain. Rather than using magnetic fields, however, PET scanning involves the detection of a very small dose of radioactive water which is injected into the blood stream. A structural MRI scan is done before or after a PET scan, so that images of the structure and activity of the brain can be integrated later. Individuals would normally be asked to participate in a study involving either MRI/fMRI scans or MRI/PET scans in any one testing session.

4 What is the procedure? All volunteers are interviewed by a doctor prior to being scanned to ensure there are no medical problems. The procedure is then explained in detail, with plenty of opportunities for questions, before the scan is started. The MRI and PET scanners both resemble large boxes with an open-ended tunnel running through the middle. The tunnel through the MRI scanner is a lot deeper than the PET scanner (shown in the picture opposite). The volunteer lies on a comfortable, padded table that is moved into the opening of the scanner. During the fmri or PET scans volunteers perform simple tasks such as reading words, detecting shapes, or viewing pictures presented on a computer screen. The following sections briefly describe the procedures unique to each of the techniques used: THE MRI SCAN The MRI scan involves being exposed to powerful magnetic forces, so all metallic items (coins, jewellery, keys, buckles etc.) must be left in a locker outside the scanning areas. The MRI scanner involves no injections or radiation, but the machine can be noisy. As the procedure involves lying in a narrow tunnel during the scan, it may be uncomfortable for people who suffer from claustrophobia. The MRI scan only takes around 20 minutes, during which time the volunteer must lie still. THE fmri SCAN The procedure for the fmri scan is the same as for the MRI scan, except that the scanning session takes around 2 hours. THE PET SCAN The PET scan involves having radioactive water injected through a small tube which is placed into a vein in the hand or forearm. This is done while the volunteer is already lying on the scanner table. The radioactivity involved is no greater than an individual would expect to receive from normal background radiation in the U.K. over the course of two years and is effectively eliminated from the body a few minutes after PET scanning. A helmet is then placed on the volunteer's head to help keep the head still during the scanning. A series of 12 scans are then performed, each taking less than a couple of minutes. The PET scanning takes around 2 hours in total. As explained earlier in this document, an MRI scan is usually performed before or after a PET scan, so the procedure for the MRI scan is also relevant.

5 The PET scanner at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre Who can volunteer? As for any scientific or medical procedure, there are a number of age and health-related requirements for people to take part: To take part in PET studies men must be at least 21 years of age. To take part in PET studies, women must be of non child-bearing potential (e.g. post-menopausal) To take part in fmri studies men and women must be at least 18 years of age Because of the strong magnetic fields used in the MRI scanner, people with metallic implants (e.g. cardiac pacemakers, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, metal pins, screws, or plates), permanent eyelining, or who have spent significant amounts of time doing metal work (e.g. involving a lathe, grinder, or similar tool), should not take part in MRI studies. Fillings in the teeth are okay People who suffer from claustrophobia or migraines are advised not to take part

6 If you have further questions If you have questions or require more information regarding these brain scanning studies, please feel free to contact: For technical questions regarding PET and (f)mri scanning in general: Mrs. Iona Kendall Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre Box 65, Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge CB2 2QQ Phone: (01223) Dr Emma Williams Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre Box 65, Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge CB2 2QQ Phone: (01223) For questions regarding the experiments conducted by the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, any of the following people may be contacted: Dr. Adrian Owen Phone: (01223) ext. 700 Dr. Kim Graham Phone: (01223) ext. 790 Dr. Matthew Brett Phone: (01223) ext. 410 Postal address: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit 15 Chaucer Rd Cambridge CB2 2EF If you have access to the internet, you can also visit our WEB sites: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit: Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre:

7 Volunteering If you would like to take part in a PET and/or fmri study, please fill out the form below, and return to Panel Manager, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, FREEPOST CB1152, Cambridge, CB2 2BR (or use the enclosed envelope). We will then contact you to further discuss your suitability and organise a scanning session. Name: Age: years Sex: Male / Female Handedness: Right / Left Do you suffer from claustrophobia? Will you have problems lying still for up to 2 hours (due, for example, to back or bladder problems)? Do you suffer from migraines? If yes, how often? Is there any metal in your body, such as a pacemaker, plates, metal clips, or screws (fillings are okay)? If yes, please provide details: What is/was your occupation? Does/did it involve mechanically working on metal? Have you ever had any kind of brain injury? If yes, please provide details: Have you ever been 'knocked out'? If yes, then for how long? Have you ever been seriously ill and treated in hospital? If yes, please provide details: Contact details Address: Phone number(s): Signature: Date:

8 Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBU) 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EF, U.K. Tel +44 (0) Fax +44 (0)