Mock MRI

Some people may feel anxious about entering an MRI machine. A mock MRI machine is identical to an actual MRI scanner in that it has a moving patient table, sound systems that can produce MRI sounds, vibration simulation, a head coil, and other equipment; however, it does not contain a magnetic field. Participants can spend as much time as they want in the mock MRI machine to get used to the MRI machine and its sounds. Therefore, it has been shown to be very useful in reducing the anxiety that participants, especially children, will experience during an MRI scan. In addition, the mock MRI machine also allows researchers to test their experimental designs in an MRI-like environment.

Advantages of the Mock MRI machine:

• It introduces participants to a real MRI scanning environment.
• It allows participants to get used to the MRI scanning procedure at their own pace.
• It enables the experiment to proceed more efficiently by reducing participants' anxiety about MRI scans and allowing them to focus better on the experiment.
• As participants become accustomed to the MRI scanning procedure and their anxiety about it decreases, possible head movements during the scan are reduced, allowing for higher-quality data to be obtained from the scan.