How does fMRI brain scanning work? Alan Alda and Dr. Nancy Kanwisher, MIT

During the filming of "Brains on Trial with Alan Alda," Alan made a special stop in a mock fMRI scanner to understand how it works and how scientists can glean insights.
For more videos and other content, go to: brainsontrial.com/

[@cfwintner1]

Alan Alda is a great interviewer, and Dr. Kanwisher answered in terms everyone can understand. Outstanding video.

[@williamjayaraj2244]

Thanks to the interviewer and Dr. Nancy Kanwisher for explaining about the functioning of fMRI scanner.

[@cigxhang486]

Very easy to understand! (and sometimes i wonder what my professors are there for)

[@ToastedSynapseGaming]

So an fMRI can be used to see changes when we get a certain stimulus, like when we are asked a question, we see a clip or an image of something or when we hear a sound. What I'm more interested in is how they are sending media to a display (I'm assuming it's that rectangular piece that we see in this clip as part of the head cage) or headphones (as I saw in a clip) WITHOUT the device being affected by magnets. That's some fancy engineering that I want to understand. Aluminum wires? Plastic? Mirrors? What's actually happening?

[@RGAlexanderVision]

Yes: mirrors, and often a projector system. The image is projected onto a series of mirrors and sometimes onto a plexiglass screen. The headphones are built from nonmagnetic components.

[@shwarnaaluthayashankar6911]

Probably, half my brain is not working, I should be doing this.

[@twoblackrabbits]

Thank you Nancy. Lmao Got a presentation.

[@SamuelFamilyILM]

ay yo anyone from mrs martinez class here -mark

[@hewakhalilifar3504]

GREAT vid! makes me feel excited about neuroimaging!

[@Voyager602]

very helpful . thanks lot!!

[@bathsheebasbroth8132]

Are you telling me he's not actually a doctor?!!

[@myadegrussa3493]

WOw

[@calcal5135]

I, a researcher in the field, estimate that 95% (possibly all in humans) of all published fMRI studies are worthless. The reason is that subject motion creates signal variance that swamps the BOLD signal. Although motion correction algorithms are applied to the data they simply do not work well enough to reduce the motion variance to an insignificant value. Most researchers know this to be true but carry on regardless because their career depends upon doing so. Other researchers are simply ignorant of the artifacts that make this method junk.

[@nathancharles6437]

Cal Cal Can you send any worthwhile sources on that? It sounds interesting and I’d like to learn more.

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Do they still not get the valid of this? Actually aware this is valid and reliable and exactly what is certain ends?

[@lanceslifepursuittv7505]

Wow that is cool I want to use this with all my evidence to just rub it in even more.

[@kumquatninja]

did they talk about the radioactive injection you have to get or nah?

[@otyliarae4597]

No, that's a different scanner - PET scan:)

[@epicnature3658]

MRI uses gadolinium.

[@dhiahassen9414]

This spent hundreds of hours in that machine

[@jamesrabon496]

Dr. Nancy needs to go out more often

[@giuseppeesposito2200]

Each bang..

[@archemedianviktor1314]

This is for the accusation of three class x felonies; I will be taking an fmri and a pet scanner and disproving your accusations.

[@archemedianviktor1314]

We will see in this and a pet scanner won't we?

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Hey arrayan; watching what is going to sue you and hold you to your standard?

[@lightnoir6914]

wat r u talking about

[@archemedianviktor1314]

I am held to my standard based on my results only. I will be held to my standard and you will be held to yours.

[@saschamrose6498]

3:34 oh really? i couldn't tell xD

[@claudiakomperda2437]

lmfaooo

[@lesliewebb300]

No

[@amuktadir1991]

TILL neck.

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Are they confused? Bigger and arrayan either way- your going to get destroyed with this and the pet scanner

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Not guilty still

[@johnnyappleseed9605]

first!

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Arrayan, not getting it? You have been reported to the FBI!!

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Hey so all of your accusations will be disproved with an fmri and pet scanner

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Jam this, then you get sued and get... etc. 🥞

[@yagzyalcntas553]

wtf is wrong with you dude? go to a pyschologist get some help

[@archemedianviktor1314]

Hey arrayan! Watch what is going to ruin you!!! Hooray