We are looking for healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 65 to participate in our Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies. Subjects will be required to perform simple tasks like watching pictures on a screen or moving your fingers while in a MRI scanner. Tests will last about 2 hours. You will be paid $20 for your time, by check only (we can not pay you with cash). You must have a social security number to get paid.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) allows researchers to obtain images of brain activity over time, as participants complete various tasks. These images provide clues about which areas of the brain are related to cognitive processes, and how different brain regions work together. The findings from fMRI research shed light on how the brain is organized.
What to Expect
During the study, an fMRI scanner, like the one in the photo to the right, will take images of your brain as you complete tasks such as moving your fingers, reading or remembering letters and responding to questions by a keypad. It is important that you devote all of your effort to the tasks you complete, in order for the images of your brain to be meaningful.
fMRI is a very safe, noninvasive imaging technology. Unlike x-rays, fMRI does not use ionizing radiation. Instead, fMRI images are generated from a strong magnetic field and low-power radio-waves, which expose fMRI subjects to much less energy than x-ray tests.
You will lie with your back on a table that slides into a horizontal cylinder in the scanner. Once inside the scanner, it is important to lie still, as many images of your brain will be taken over time, and to be useful, the images must line up. In order to help you stay still and comfortable, pillows will be placed under and around your head and body in the scanner.
The scanner makes loud beeping and banging noises, so you will be given earplugs or headphones. You will always be able to communicate with the researchers by squeezing a ball which alerts the researchers. The researchers will frequently interact with you to make sure that you are comfortable and to let you know what will happen next. You should not experience any discomfort. If you do, alert the researcher and the scan will be stopped if the discomfort cannot be alleviated.
If you are interested in participating in a Golby Lab brain imaging study, please complete the Participant Recruitment Form. The form will open in a new window. All information will be kept strictly confidential.