Home Preparation

Thank you for visiting our home preparation page. Here we aim to work with you on a number of skills you will need before you come to Stanford. The first thing we need to do is practice the fMRI games. If you participate in a study, you will be provided with a package containing a CD with MRI sounds, a video showing the MRI procedure, a book showing the step-by-step procedures and tips on how to practice. If you have not received these yet, or just wish to role-play the MRI situation before committing to a study, you can follow the procedures on this web page.

If you want to see the steps we go through in the practice MRI, click on the arrows below to see a slide show.

The Statue Game

The statue game was invented to assist you in learning how to keep still for short and long periods of time. When we scan you in the MRI, it is really important that you don't move. This includes all the parts of your body, but most importantly, your head. A grade sheet has been provided on this page (Click below for Grade Sheet) Each time you keep still for the time on the grade sheet, you can place a shiny star or color in the empty star spot.

1. First, put your name on the grade sheet.
   
   
2. Lie on the floor on your back (like in the photo below).
   
   
3. Get a friend or a family member to place the tips of their fingers just above your ears.
   
   
4. When you are comfortable, you can start the gameÉ remember to keep still like a statue!

The aim of the game is to keep as still as possible. This includes the whole body (from your nose to your toes rule). If you move, the person holding your head will make a noise (e.g. like blow a whistle). You are allowed one move for the one minute; two moves for three minutes; three moves for five minutes and five moves for ten minutes.

OK, you are ready to start playing.

1. Set the timer to 1 minute.
   
   
2. When the person holding you head says go, you should keep still for 1 minute If you kept still for the minute, you can fill in the empty space on the grading sheet and move on to three minutes and so on.

Download a grade sheet.

Preparing for Your MRI Visit

If you want to see what the real MRI is like, click on the link below. This movie shows the whole procedure, including the equipment and tasks we use.

Preparing For Your MRI Visit (7.6MB QuickTime Movie)