MRI brain scans

[mellowtigger]

The process was very fast and uneventful.  That's good, since I only got 4.5 hours of sleep last night.  I go to see the neurologist on Tuesday morning next week.

I wore my purple Zubaz and an Animal Humane Society t-shirt.  I took off my glasses and my shoes.  They gave me ear protectors (against the loud noise) that had a local radio station piped in so I could listen while I waited.  I had to keep my eyes closed the whole time, and they told me to not wiggle even my feet during the procedure.  There was no injection of any enhancing chemicals.

There was much clicking and humming and thumping.  The last minute was so obnoxious that the roller-bed was shaking from the force of the machinery.  A few of the scans gave me a sensation of slightly brighter ambient lighting, but I resisted the curiosity to open my eyes and check directly.  They gave me a cd of all the images after they were done.  (I asked for a copy.)  It's been an hour since the procedure and I have no headaches or dizziness or nausea. 

They took 129 images.  Here are 6 that I like.  I've expanded their sizes to make them easier to view here.





That's my brain.  :)

Comments

[snousle.livejournal.com]

The one with the eyeballs would make a great user pic!

[mellowtigger]

(oops, you just caught me editing the text to take out the speculation)

Yeah, I like that one best for the sci-fi "It Came From Outer Space" effect. You're right, I should turn it into an icon. :)

[mellowtigger]

Done. :)

[lordalfredhenry.livejournal.com]

That's amazing! I wish I knew how to interpret these images! I can recognize a few structures there. The left side asymmetry is perhaps most intriguing.

[mellowtigger]

Yeah, the lopsided nature of the shape was very noticeable to me too.

I just edited out some speculation I had previously written into the article. I'll wait for the neurologist to do the proper interpretation.

[lordalfredhenry.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to find out! I often have wanted to compile more detailed information about the systems and structures of autistic genetics, brain structures and systems of these kinds. Not just that, but the topic of brain studies was a perseveration of mine for a while. I came up with a core brain theory for autism. I also know of only a few gay aspie bears (not sure how many others are also left handed like me too). (the only other I know of on LJ is dmlaenker who I've met in real life and was surprised when it came to personality similarities.....I know almost know one with my personality)

[hilltop.livejournal.com]

I had one of these done a few years ago, and my brain was SO asymetrical the guy called in other docs to take a look at it, they were all sorts of amused.

[mellowtigger]

"Let your freak flag fly!" :)

I'm just glad they didn't overlay a grid showing the various brain areas. I might've been embarrassed at the multiple SEX regions and their various sizes. *laugh*

[hilltop.livejournal.com]

Hahaa!

[dangerdhotrod.livejournal.com]

i saw the top right text note as saying 'Mister Brain w/o Contrast' at the top right.

teehee

[mellowtigger]

That's what I can call my new icon: Mr. Brain. :)

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

Strange don't remember mine being noisy, or clangy. It was just weird staring at the inside of a tube while invisible rays ping at your brain.

It was indeed very b-movie, Attack of the 50 ft Bear.

Glad it went well...I didn't get any piccies! WAH! The EEG person did a special reading for me which was on the wall for many years though...

[mellowtigger]

I think an EEG would be interesting to look at too, yes. Not nearly as easy to "read" as photographs, though.

Did you not have ear protection for your MRI scan? I wore mine throughout, and they warned me in particular before the last test started. It lasted only a minute, but it was much more intense than the others.

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

Asymmetry is normal, eyestalk man. When you look closely, very little about humans is symmetrical. Most people's face isn't even on straight! These are nice, crisp scans. As you've learned, these are a few slices of dozens or even hundreds, so nothing can really be gleaned from these few images. I think your radiologist will have fun reading the whole batch, though!

Wait... what are those words in your brain, in the bottom image... Hecho en Mexico? What? :oP

[mellowtigger]

"Hecho en Mexico?" I couldn't even guess what idea you're wrestling with there.

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

It was a joke... Hecho en Mexico means made in Mexico.

[mellowtigger]

Oops, I thought you were making a Lucha Libre reference. (It looks like a wrestler mask to me!)

[sunshinenilkcub]

Cool! I am very interested in the interpretation, especially anything autism related. I've been reading all of your entries with interest, just never have had much time or energy to respond. Right now I can't sleep, so I have all kinds of time. :)

[mellowtigger]

I know that there are some structral differences in autism brains, but I don't know that whole-brain images can distinguish it. Maybe if they focused on particular areas for closer viewing.

I think in order to see anything autism-related from the whole brain scans, they would have to be functional MRI scans (which mine are not). That would let them see how different areas of my brain are processing different kinds of information.

Still, yes, I think it's interesting/exciting to be going through this process myself. :)

[vocalista001.livejournal.com]

My husband just had this procedure done, and we are also waiting for a gazillion days for the neurologist appointment.

I too wish I knew what the heck I was looking at and what it meant!