Chapter 1: Self-assessment Questions

1. Describe the goals and methods of phrenology. What concept did the phrenologists introduce?
2. To what aspect of imaging does “contrast” refer? How could a single image be high-contrast in one sense and low-contrast in another?
3. What is functional resolution, and how is it different from spatial and temporal resolution?
4. What are magnetic resonance effects and how were they studied by physicists?
5. How did Damadian and Lauterbur each contribute to the development of MRI?
6. Why was there a boom in MRI use in the 1980s? How did this growth set the stage for fMRI?
7. What are the main components of a MRI scanner?
8. How does a MRI scanner generate the main magnetic field? What two criteria are important for the main magnetic field?
9. What is the difference between a surface coil and a volume coil?
10. Why are gradients necessary for image generation? What sorts of coils are used to generate these gradients?
11. What is shimming, and why is it important?
12. Describe the procedures of a typical fMRI experiment.
13. What effects do very strong static magnetic fields have upon human tissue?
14. What happens to metal brought within the static magnetic field? Consider both large external objects (e.g., oxygen canisters) and small internal devices (e.g., aneurysm clips).
15. What effects do the changing gradient fields have upon the human body? How can these effects be minimized?
16. What is SAR? Why is it important for fMRI?
17. Why is it important to avoid looping wires or necklaces near the head coil?
18. What is the most common health consequence for MRI studies? How can it be minimized?