Video camera and light system for application in magnetic resonance scanners

The direct observation and simultaneous recording of subject, behavior, e.g . facial movements, during MR imaging is necessary for a variety of functio nal imaging studies involving phenomena such as emotions, humor, mood, etc. Such observation is also valuable for the monitoring of very ill ol young patients, We describe a color video camera and light system which wurks wit hin the functioning scanner. The camera acquires high resolution video sequ ences during conventional T-1-weighted and functional T-2*-weighted imaging . When fixed to the head coil artefacts during the MRI-acquisition were ins ignificant. The video allows observation of the face detailed enough to per mit FAGS scoring of facial expressions. We therefore propose that it can be applied for a wide variety of studies needing visual feedback of subject b ehavior. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.