BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF MOTION CONTROL FOR PEDIATRIC NEUROIMAGING

Magnetic resonance imaging is a promising technological advance used f or research and diagnosis of disease. The procedure has no risks, exce pt when uncooperative patients require sedation. Four normal children participated in simulated scans to study the effects of (a) antecedent changes in the imaging environment and (b) operant conditioning of mo vement inhibition. Changing the environment can decrease movement, but operant contingencies were necessary to decrease movement to a level that, in most cases, would allow the procedure to occur without sedati on.