What's it like to take part in a brain scan experiment?

This week marks the 21st annual global Brain Awareness Week. We’re celebrating with our own Brilliant Brain Week, a week of activities in Live Lab with experts from Bristol Neuroscience, from the University of Bristol. Brilliant Brain Week offers the chance for you to chat to local neuroscientists working at the cutting edge research and discover why we still have so much to learn about what goes on inside our heads. Our Exhibitions Manager, Emma Cook, recently took part in an exciting experiment which was looking at just that. So, we caught with her to find out what it was like:

“I don't suppose you would be interested in a brain scanning experiment...?” This throwaway comment from Professor Paul Howard-Jones of the University of Bristol that led me to taking part in something I've never done before. “Are you kidding!? Of course I am! A chance to get involved with figuring out the brain, I'm in!” I exclaimed.

Less than a fortnight after Paul’s offhand proposition, there I was. Adrenaline pumping like I'm waiting for a ride at a theme park! Remove all metal - check. No obvious health problems - check. Paul welcomed me, but we didn't hang about; getting time on an MRI scanner appears to be like getting a table at a Michelin star restaurant. Chong Shen, the doctoral student in charge, explained the drill. Just a few days before I was in the simulation experiment under a dark wooden replica, but in the real thing the lights were brighter and the sounds were much louder. 

Earplugs in and strange helmet thing on, I was tucked into blanket (sounds cosy, but my mind conjured up a dystopian future where aliens or robots made use of the amazing human brain, while keeping our bodies cocooned). Then, a friendly voice through the intercom prompted me to concentrate. “I'm going to be in here for quite a while...”, I thought. 

And that was the main effect. I was hyper conscious of all my thoughts. At one point I mentally apologised for thinking a swear word! After an initial scan of my brain, I had to complete a game. The game itself was simple; there was a blue Yeti that must be stalked. As a hunter you have three options: track up to the left, up to the right, or stay still and see if it comes to you. In the simulation I had done fairly well, getting 340 in my practice. 

Turns out a thumping MRI baseline doesn't put me off my game, I got 395. I was really hoping for 400 - Paul said he could see my frustration (could he really?). After the game I had an anatomical scan. Should be easy. I closed my eyes, but lost all sense of up, down and everything. Once it was over I was relieved to get back to the game and determined to get to 400. 

The game started badly. No matter what I did, the Yeti moved away. Was my brain lighting up with despondency? Or would there be a flicker of resilience? Ohhh, I really wanted to see what was happening. 

By half way I was trying to mentally calculate if it was possible to reach my target, luckily that lack of focus didn’t stop me triumphing. Not only did I hit 400, I finished with a very respectable 425. I didn't catch the Yeti of course. That's for the next time. 

As for what this all means, well I have to wait for the results. Paul was able to quickly thank me before they prepped for the next one. And I was back into what now looked like a very, very big world.