Spend a morning at The Royal getting your brain scanned for science
Mental illness is more common than many people may think. In any given year, one in five Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. These are our family members, friends, neighbours, our colleagues, and research is our best hope for helping them.
I signed up to be part of a research study at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal because the topic caught my attention: “Characterizing suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant depression using neuroimaging.” In this study, the research team is essentially comparing the structure and function of the brain in individuals who have suicidal thoughts, to those who don’t. And if they find specific differences between the two, it could lead to new ways to detect, identify, manage, and treat depression and other related conditions.
I was to be interviewed by a member of the research team and fill out some questionnaires, have my blood drawn, give a urine sample, and undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan at The Royal’s Brain Imaging Centre (BIC). I’ve never had an MRI before and was curious to experience it for myself.
What is it like to participate in research and get an MRI?
I arrived at the appointed time, and we got started right away. I signed a consent form and filled out the questionnaires. I gave a urine sample and changed into a hospital gown. I had to remove my jewelry, which was stored in a locker along with my clothes and handbag. My weight and height were measured, and I had my blood drawn.
The Royal's Brain Imaging Centre features state-of-the-art tools that enable researchers to study the brain in innovative ways. One of these is the MRI, which captures detailed images inside the human body. It looks like a big metal tube that is open at both ends. The outer part contains a very powerful magnet and images of the brain are generated by magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves.
I was asked to lie down on a platform that extends out of the MRI and was given a pillow to prop up my knees and a warm blanket. I was given expandable foam ear plugs and headphones to wear over top of them, as well as a ball to squeeze in case I needed to signal the technologist for any reason.
Finally, it was time. When I gave the ok, the platform was raised and it slid into the scanner. It takes a long time to get a good image, so I was told that keeping very still is important. It was also explained to me ahead of time that MRI scans are loud but it was hard to anticipate what kind of decibel level we were talking about and what kind of sound it was going to be: dental drill or Dementor?
There were a variety of different noises during the different stages of my session which I would describe as rhythmic clanging for the most part, interspersed with machine-like tones. It’s hard to describe, but yes, it was loud, and the high volume made it hard to focus on my thoughts.
For this study, four different scans were taken of my brain during my one session in the MRI. Three of them took five or six minutes to capture, during which I watched a slideshow of nature photography. For the fourth one I was directed to watch the shape of a white plus sign on a black screen for about eight minutes.
Feeling claustrophobic in the MRI
The MRI “bed” or platform is fairly narrow, as is the space inside the MRI itself. As I prepared myself for the MRI I was mildly worried that I might be claustrophobic. I had been asked whether I was afraid of confined spaces a few different times during pre-screening but I wasn’t sure how to answer because I’ve never been in a space like this before.
Although I didn’t avail myself of this, research participants can try out their mock scanner if they think they may experience claustrophobia in the real thing.
Now that I reflect on my time in the MRI, I don’t think I’m claustrophobic exactly, but I do have a mild fear of being trapped. Perhaps that’s two sides of the same coin. I will say that the last few minutes of the scan were the most challenging for me. My hand had fallen asleep, and I was eager to sit up and stretch.
While the scans were underway, I tried to breathe in and out as evenly and calmly as I could. With every exhale I imagined a stream of stress, fear, and worry exiting my body and filling up a large red balloon and floating away.
And then I was done. I wondered whether my ears would be ringing at the end, but this wasn’t the case. The hearing protection helped a lot. I did feel tired and a little dazed, although I’m not sure whether it was because of the stress of the situation or a lack of sleep the night before, or both.
Getting an MRI is a unique experience and it’s different for everyone. I think it’s comparable to a blood donation. For some, it’s a walk in the park, for others, it’s challenging. I am somewhere in the middle: parts of the process are uncomfortable, but I did it because it ultimately helps others.
Perks of participating in a research study at the Brain Imaging Centre
Not all studies offer participants the opportunity to see the brain scans afterwards, but the staff involved in this particular study gave me a brief overview of my brain, which was pretty cool. There was also monetary compensation for my participation. Sometimes the compensation is a gift card, but I received $50. It was a welcome perk!
The best part about participating in research
When we learn more about mental illness, we move a little bit closer to improving diagnosis, treatment, and care. While I’m neither a researcher nor health care provider, participating in a research study was one way I could contribute to our collective understanding of the brain.
There is a pressing need for research participants and mental health research can’t happen without them! For more information about participating in research studies at The Royal, click here.