Question

A patient in an MRI unit turns his head quickly to one side and experiences momentary dizziness and a strange taste in his mouth. Discuss the possible causes.

Short answer

A patient in an MRI unit turns his head quickly to one side and experiences momentary dizziness and a strange taste in his mouth, because, our nerve sensors detected induced voltage because of the Hall effect as a stimulus.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging method used in radiology to create images of the body's architecture and physiological processes. Strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves are used in MRI scanners to create images of the body's organs.

Explaining the possible causes

The MRI scanner is a powerful magnet. The patient-generated a variety of effects by moving his head, the most noticeable of which was the Hall effect.

By moving a conductor (our nerves) in a strong magnetic field, the patient can create voltage. Because nerve receptors identified that voltage as an external input, disruption, or stimulus, unusual taste resulted. That is one possibility; however, there can be other possibilities as well.