A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine is used similarly to an X-Ray machine, but not quite the same. Instead of taking pictures of your bones, as an X-Ray does, an MRI takes a look at soft tissue. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to form images of the body. The technique has revolutionized, and has become a very important part of psychology.

MRI is done for many reasons; it is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessels diseases or infection. Another function is serves is to provide for information about a problem seen on another method, such as an X-Ray. When a patient is having an MRI for their head, the goal is to search the brain for tumors, an aneurysm, nerve injury and others, all injuries that could provoke a stroke. Also, a head MRI can interestingly enough find problems of the eyes, optic nerves, ears and auditory nerves. Problems like such, tie more into why MRI is used often in Psychology, however my experience with an MRI had more to do with bones and joints.

When using an MRI for this purpose, the test searches for torn ligaments, tendons or infections. The purpose of my MRI was to detect torn ligaments, which in fact, resulted in torn ligaments. Ligament tears are common in sports, and my senior year resulted to knee ligament tears, leading up to knee surgery. I was given order by the doctors to schedule an MRI, because my X-Ray appeared with no broken bones. My orthopedist was confident that something in my left knee needed fixing, something only an MRI could tell.

Upon walking into the room for my appointment, I remember seeing a huge machine, in a circular shape, and a place to sit on which enters your body into the hole of the machine. In my case, my left leg was entered into the scanner, and the rest of my body was out of it, but definitely close enough to hear the piercing banging noises. The workers give you headphones, but trust me when I tell you, they do NOT work. The MRI process lasts about 30 minutes long, depending on whether or not you don’t move the body part being pictured. Luckily, I did a good job with it, and after 30 minutes, and a migraine, I was released for the machine and spent the next few days awaiting my results. Learning about MRI in Psych class reminded me of this experience I had with one, and it definitely helped me better understand the concept when learning it in class.