Tests of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• Healthy volunteers, new or from current NIH protocols are eligible. Healthy volunteers will be defined according the history obtained from reported medical history, medical record (reported at registration), the MRI safety questionnaire, and a clinical grade noncontrast brain MRI.
• Willing to travel to the NIH for follow-up visits
• Greater than 18 years old
• Able to understand and sign informed consent.
• Bilingual or multilingual subjects can participate in this study as long as the subjects are also fluent in English. Subjects do not need to be native or monolingual speakers of English.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

The following criteria will be used to exclude subjects from participating in this protocol:

• Implanted metal clips or wires of the type which may concentrate radiofrequency fields or cause tissue damages from twisting in a Magnetic field. Examples:

  • Aneurysm clip, implanted neural stimulator,
  • Implanted cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, or certain other implanted electrical or metallic devices,
  • Cochlear implant, ocular foreign body (metal shavings),
  • Any implanted device (pumps, infusion devices, etc.),
  • Shrapnel injuries,
  • History of metal in head or eyes or other parts of the body.
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulators (VNS)
  • Subjects with tattoos that contain metal.
• Pregnant women
• Over 350 lbs because of the weight limit of the MRI table
• Prior surgery that may render performing the MRI to be unsafe.
• Untreatable claustrophobia otherwise requiring anesthesia or antianxiety medications that may alter the subject s ability to perform the tasks during fMRI scanning.
• Subjects will be asked to refrain from drinking or eating caffeinated foods or drinks the morning of the scan that can result in vessel vasoconstriction prior to the scan.
• Any contraindications that the Physician identifies from the Subject s reported history, MRI Safety Questionnaire and/or medical record.