Facilities

MRI Scanner

We have a Siemens 3T Magnetom Prisma scanner situated within the school of Psychology, in a dedicated MRI Suite comprising scanner room, control room, technical room and equipment storage room.

The scanner is equipped with spine and head coils, including a 32channel, and 64channel head coils. With software for brain and body imaging as described in the following document.

UWWBIC Prisma Specification

A photo of a participant entering the MRI Scanner

MRI Simulator

Also known as a “mock-scanner”, and housed in its own dedicated room, the MRI Simulator is used for acclimatising children and vulnerable adults to the MR environment.

MRI Simulators have been shown to reduce participant dropout rate, reduce anxiety, and ultimately increase data quality.

They can also be used to prototype experimental set-ups, providing real exposure to bore size and table dimensions to recreate research set-ups without having to use the actual MRI scanner.

Our simulator has:

a realistic scanner casing
mock Siemens 32channel head coil
active ventilation and diffuse
adjustable illumination
integrated, high-end, audio system for reproducing MRI simulated sounds
realistic acceleration-/deceleration of the patient table
an integrated control panel for all MRI Simulator functions

Eye Tracker

The centre has an MRI-Compatible SR Research Eye-Link Plus. According to SR Research it is the world’s most precise and accurate video-based eye tracker, sampling binocularly at up to 2000 Hz. It is highly customisable, with multiple mount options, interchangeable lenses, and head-fixed (free) tracking modes.

This versatility facilitates eye-tracking across a wide range of experimental setups and participant groups, from infants to the elderly and animal participants too.

It also enables integration with EEG, fMRI, MEG, ECoG, and other devices.

Testing rooms

The centre has three testing rooms: two behavioural testing rooms, each equipped with a desk, desktop computer and internet connection and one clinical testing room, equipped with desk, desktop computer, internet connection, clinical fridge, centrifuge and patient bed.

Waiting room

Waiting Room and Kitchen

The Waiting room and Kitchenette look out onto the quadrangle of the Lawrence Stenhouse Building (LSB) offering a quiet and peaceful view of the pond and surrounding nature. We have a wheelchair accessible toilet.

Lab Layout

There is also an office for an MRI centre manager, and 3 subject testing rooms for preparation and debrief before and after experiments. We provide an accessible, comfortable participant experience through inclusion of a light and open waiting area, lockers for participants’ personal items, a kitchennette, and a wheelchair accessible toilet.

How can you use UWWBIC?

The MRI scanner, mock-scanner and testing rooms can be booked via Calpendo, our online booking system.

UWWBIC facilities can be used by any scientist from UEA or partner institution, subject to approval by the UWWBIC management committee.

To use the MRI scanner, you’ll need to present your research at a UWWBIC project meeting. If you’d like to use our facilities please contact Will Penny or Mark Terry.

Adjacent Labs

Adjoining labs include the Developmental Dynamics labs housing Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and other technologies designed to tap brain and behaviour in early development. UWWBIC is sited close to existing EEG, Virtual Reality, Sleep, Movement and Exercise Laboratory (MoveExLab) and the medical school.

Bird's eye photo of Brain Imaging centre and surrounding labs