A magnetic resonance imaging system (100, 300, 500) configured for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from a subject at least partially within an imaging zone, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: - a video system (122, 122', 122") configured for providing video images of a facial region of the subject during acquisition of the magnetic resonance imaging data; - a video-based voice activity detection module having access to the video images and configured to determine in real time a voice activity state of the subject from the video images being input into the video-based voice activity detection module, wherein the voice activity state indicates a talking state of the subject or a non- talking state of the subject; - a user interface; - a memory storing machine executable instructions and pulse sequence commands, wherein the pulse sequence commands are configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data; - a processor configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions by the processor causes the processor to: - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data; - receive the video images from the video system during execution of the pulse sequence commands; - determine the voice activity state of the subject in real time from the video images by inputting the video images into the video-based voice activity detection module; - provide a voice activity signal if the voice activity state indicates the talking state characterized in that - the execution of the machine executable instructions further causes the processor to provide an indicator on the user interface as the voice activity signal, and - the user interface is configured for opening a communication channel between an operator and the subject in response to the voice activity signal. - a video system (122, 122', 122") configured for providing video images of a facial region of the subject during acquisition of the magnetic resonance imaging data; - a video-based voice activity detection module having access to the video images and configured to determine in real time a voice activity state of the subject from the video images being input into the video-based voice activity detection module, wherein the voice activity state indicates a talking state of the subject or a non- talking state of the subject; - a user interface; - a memory storing machine executable instructions and pulse sequence commands, wherein the pulse sequence commands are configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data; - a processor configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system, - control the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data; - receive the video images from the video system during execution of the pulse sequence commands; - determine the voice activity state of the subject in real time from the video images by inputting the video images into the video-based voice activity detection module; - provide a voice activity signal if the voice activity state indicates the talking state - the execution of the machine executable instructions further causes the processor to provide an indicator on the user interface as the voice activity signal, and - the user interface is configured for opening a communication channel between an operator and the subject in response to the voice activity signal.