Funding
The LEAP Neuro Lab at UCSB is recruiting volunteer participants for a paid study on how people process emotional information and make decisions. Using non-invasive neuroimaging (fMRI), your brain activity and physiological measures (e.g., heart rate, sweat) will be recorded while you complete visual tasks on a computer.
The LEAP Neuro Lab at UCSB is recruiting volunteer participants for a study on how people process emotional information and make decisions. Participation involves completing visual tasks on a computer while physiological measures and brain activity are recorded non-invasively using neuroimaging (fMRI). Some sessions will include administering non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation/TMS) prior to fMRI and physiological data recording.
Participation in this study will consist of 4 sessions conducted on separate days. In the first session, you will complete a behavioral task in the scanner that will last no longer than 80 minutes. In the remaining sessions, you will first undergo the administration of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation; TMS) outside the scanner, after which you will complete a behavioral task in the MRI scanner. In addition, you will also be asked to complete tasks outside of the MRI scanner, which should take no longer than 60 minutes.
The total participation time for each session of this study is 3-3.5 hours, with a total study duration of ~12-14 hours across all four experimental sessions. Compensation is $20/hour. In addition, you will receive a $50 bonus for completing all four sessions. In total, you will receive up to $330 after participating in all four sessions.
To be eligible for this study, participants must meet all the following criteria:
- Be right-handed
- Fluent English speakers
- Between the ages of 21-35
- Because this study requires multiple sessions, eligible participants must be in Santa Barbara/available for sessions between now and March 2025
- Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and normal color vision
- No personal or family history of epilepsy
- No history of fainting
- Able to follow verbal and/or written instructions
- Able to perform motor responses such as button presses
- No history of hearing issues
- No history of or current neurological disease
- No magnetic metal implants (titanium is ok)
- No permanent piercings or jewelry (must be removed)
- No history of claustrophobia
- No history of psychiatric disease requiring hospitalization.
- Not currently taking medication for psychiatric conditions.
Interested volunteers must first complete an MRI and TMS safety screening questionnaire to determine eligibility for participation.
Please contact Runan Wang at leapneurostudy@psych.ucsb.edu for further details if interested.