Participate in Studies
The Brandeis Aging Brain Study
Study Overview
We are looking for volunteers to participate in a study that investigates how the brain and thinking abilities change over time. As this is a longitudinal study, we would like to invite some participants to come into the lab multiple times if they are interested. Some of these sessions may involve brain scans.
Eligibility
We are seeking healthy adults 18 and older. If you are currently not in good health, have a history of neurological or psychiatric problems, or cannot speak and write English proficiently, please do not volunteer for this study.
Screening Process
If you are interested in volunteering for our study, you may fill out our online eligibility questionnaire or call our lab to complete the questions verbally with a research assistant. Upon review, we will call you to confirm your responses and notify you of your eligibility status. If you are chosen to participate, you will be given a consent form, a Subject's Bill of Rights and a verbal explanation of the testing procedure.
Requirements
Participants will be asked to come to the Brandeis campus for a brief medical interview. You will then take a series of tests designed to assess your thinking abilities. These tests may be taken with paper and pencil or on a computer and will involve tasks such as solving puzzles and remembering lists of words. The study will take approximately three hours to complete.
Compensation
You will be paid $60 for participation in this study. This study is not expected to benefit you directly.
Aging, Norepinephrine, and Tau (LC) Study
Study Overview
We are looking for volunteers to participate in a study that investigates the factors that protect some individuals from developing brain pathology found in Alzheimer’s disease. This study involves brain imaging (MRI, PET) and blood sampling, as well as completion of a memory task.
Eligibility
We are seeking healthy older adults aged 60-85 years old. If you are currently not in good health, are currently taking medication to treat anxiety or depression, or cannot speak and write English proficiently, please do not volunteer for this study.
Screening Process
If you are interested in volunteering for our study, you may fill out our online eligibility questionnaire or call our lab to complete the questions verbally with a research assistant. Upon review, we will call you to confirm your responses and notify you of your eligibility status. If you are chosen to participate, you will be given a consent form, a Subject's Bill of Rights and a verbal explanation of the testing procedure.
Requirements
Participants will be asked to come to the Mass General Hospital Martinos Center in Charlestown, MA. We will complete one 60-minute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and one 30-minute positron emission tomography (PET) scan. We will also take one blood sample. In addition, participants will complete a short memory task in our office at the Brandeis campus on a separate date. The study will take approximately five to six hours to complete. We will then call you three years later to complete this same study schedule again.
For all participants who complete the first visit day of the MRI, PET, blood draw and memory task, we will then call you within 6-12 months to ask if you are willing to participate in an additional scanning visit. This additional visit involves a single 90-minute PET scan at the Massachusetts General Hospital Martinos Center with compensation. This scan is crucial for our study and provides new insights about brain activity. We would again call you three years later to repeat this study visit.
Compensation
You will be paid up to $1,400 for your participation in this study. This will be paid in four portions: $400 upon completion of visit 1 (MRI, PET, and blood draw), $300 upon completion of visit 2 (90-minute PET scan), $400 upon completion of visit 3 (MRI, PET, and blood draw three years later), and $300 upon completion of visit 4 (90-minute PET scan three years later). This study is not expected to benefit you directly.
Cognitive Effort in Daily-Life in Aging Study
This study is currently only available for individuals aged 35-60.
Study Overview
This study aims to examine the role of motivation and cognition on human decision-making.
Eligibility
We are currently looking for English-speaking adults ages 35+ or older adults over the age of 60 years. Participants should not have a neurological (e.g., stroke, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease) or psychiatric disorders (depression, bipolar or schizophrenia) or currently taking any medications for anxiety or depression.
Requirements
This study requires one online questionnaire where you will complete a survey for eligibility criteria.
For adults aged 35-60, this study requires one in-person cognitive testing session, which will take approximately 2.5 hours. Following, participants will go through a 3-week sampling period while wearing a physical activity ring.
For adults aged 61+, this study requires one in-person onboarding session, which lasts approximately 45 minutes. Following, participants will go through a 3-week sampling period while wearing a physical activity ring.
The physical activity ring collects information about your sleep patterns, heart rate, and breathing. You would also be asked to install a couple of apps on your cell phone so that you would receive surveys several times a day asking about your activities and mood, and to monitor your daily locations.
Compensation
Adults ages 35-60 will be paid up to $85 for participation in this study. Adults ages 61+ will be paid up to $40 for participation in this study. This study is not expected to benefit you directly.
Curiosity and Decision-making Study
This study is available for participants who first complete our longitudinal neuropsychology study in our office in Waltham.
Study Overview
This study aims to investigate how curiosity may affect people's thinking across the lifespan.
Eligibility
We are currently looking for English-speaking older adults ages 60+. Participants should not have a neurological (e.g., stroke, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease) or psychiatric disorders (depression, bipolar or schizophrenia) or currently taking any medications for anxiety or depression.
Requirements
This study requires one online questionnaire where you will complete a survey for eligibility criteria. This study requires one in-person computer testing session
This study requires one in-person computer session (approximately 2 hours), and one remote computer session (approximately 1 hour). During the in-person computer session, you will be asked to do a decision-making task, and your eye movements will be collected by an eye-tracker. The day after your in-person visit (24 hours later), you will complete the remote task on your home computer. You will answer questions about the objects you studied during your in-person session. We will send you the task via email. This study compensates $45. Please note that we will ask that you refrain from consuming caffeine or alcohol in the 24 hours prior to your session, as it can greatly influence your pupil dilation.
Compensation
You will be paid $45 dollars for participation in this study.