DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

10/31/2024

The SoundBrain Lab is seeking participants for a research study investigating how our brains process speech sounds.

You may be eligible if:

• You are between 13-25 years old, have normal hearing (no hearing loss), and are a native speaker of either English or Mandarin Chinese.

Participation includes:

• A quick hearing test, a language background questionnaire, and a non-invasive measure of brain activity (EEG) while you listen to sounds. The EEG consists of having sensors placed behind each ear, on the forehead, and on the top center of the head. Please note that we will need to be able to part your hair/access your scalp on the top center of your head, and that some hairstyles may not be compatible with this requirement.

Participation requires one visit to our lab on the Evanston campus that will last for about 3 hours. Participants will be compensated at $15/hour.

*** Our lab is committed to ensuring that our studies reflect the diversity of the broader Evanston and Chicago community. To achieve this, we are specifically seeking Black or African American males and Asian males to participate in this study. Your involvement is vital in helping us create more inclusive and representative findings. Participants of other identities are also welcome to inquire about participation in this study. Thank you for your consideration! ***

If you are interested, please complete this brief eligibility survey: https://northwestern.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_885AhorQVZPZlBQ

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at soundbrainlab@northwestern.edu. A study team member will get back to you shortly.

Study Title: Cortical Contributions to the Frequency-Following Response

Principal Investigator: Dr. Bharath Chandrasekaran

IRB#: STU00219265

10/1/2024

The Bilingualism and Psycholinguistics Research Group at Northwestern University is recruiting Arabic-English bilinguals ages 18-35 years old for an online study on constructing a bilingual knowledge test. Arabic-English bilinguals must currently reside in the U.S., must be proficient in both Arabic and English, and must have learned Arabic first.

This study consists of tasks and questionnaires that should take approximately two hours to complete, across two testing sessions that are two weeks apart from each other. You will receive $12 per hour (or $6 per half an hour) for your participation in the first session, and you will receive $15 per hour for your participation in the second session.

Once complete the first session, you will receive an invitation to complete the second session, which will take place two weeks later. Thank you for your interest in our research! For more information or to sign up, please contact PhD Student, Malak Elmessiry, at malak.elmessiry@u.northwestern.edu or 847-467-2709.

Study Title: Bilingual Language Processing in Applied Contexts

Principal Investigator: Prof. Viorica Marian

IRB#: STU00220336

9/10/2024

The Bilingualism and Psycholinguistics Research Group at Northwestern University is recruiting Spanish-English bilingual and English monolingual participants for a combined electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-tracking study on language and cognition. Spanish-English bilinguals must be proficient in both Spanish and English. English monolinguals must have no or limited proficiency in a second language.

EEG and eye-tracking technology are safe and non-invasive techniques used in psycholinguistics research. We are recording eye-movements as well as the neural activity at the surface of the scalp as it naturally occurs in the brain.

The visit will take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. For your time and effort, you will be compensated $15 per hour. The visit will take place on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. CTA transportation reimbursement will be provided if needed.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Concepción Soto, at c.soto@northwestern.edu or 847-467-2709.

Study Title: Cognitive Architecture of Bilingual Language Processing

Principal Investigator: Prof. Viorica Marian

IRB#: STU00023477

8/13/2024

Do you or your friend struggle with self-confidence?
Help us research how close friends talk and support each other!
If you AND one of your close friends are between 18 and 40 years and willing to participate together, you may be eligible. You and your friend can each earn up to $125.

For this study, you and one of your close, same-sex friends will participate together at Northwestern’s medical school campus in downtown Chicago. You will complete an interview, a variety of questionnaires, and several tasks with your friend while having your brain activity recorded using EEG. Many of the procedures will be completed online rather than in person. This study will take approximately 5 hours to complete, splitting into 2 days. You and your friend will each be paid $25/hour for a total of $125 (the total amount will depend on how long your visit takes). Additionally, you will also be compensated for parking or CTA travel for attending the study visit.

If you are interested, please fill out this brief survey to see if you are eligible (https://redcap.nubic.northwestern.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=487MNAJAMWMLC9AM).

If you have more questions, feel free to email the us at Emotion-Friends@northwestern.edu or call/text at 312-884-9797! A team member will get back to you shortly.

Study Title: Emotional Processing in Friendships

Principal Investigator: Dr. Stewart Shankman

IRB#: STU00218814

8/6/2024 

The Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences is recruiting families with babies 9 to 30 months of age to participate in the pilot phase of a study investigating early brain and child development.

The visit will consist of a lullaby MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) while baby is sleeping. No dyes/contrast or sedation are used. MRIs are safe and routinely used in research settings. The visit will take approximately 2.5 – 3 hours and families are compensated $115 for their time. The visit will take place on Northwestern’s Chicago campus. Parking validation or transportation reimbursement will be provided along with childcare (if needed for other children).

For more information or to sign up, please email HBCD Study Manager, Brianna Sinche, at brianna.sinche@northwestern.edu.

Study Title: The HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD)

Principal Investigators: Drs. Lauren Wakschlag and Elizabeth Norton

IRB#: STU00217118

7/19/2024

The Dynamic Brain Lab at Northwestern University is recruiting volunteers to participate in research on the brain dynamics underlying memory and cognitive control across the human lifespan. We are recruiting adults and children for multiple studies.

Participants will be compensated at $30/hour.

The research will take place in downtown Chicago.

Follow this link for more information, and to sign up: https://redcap.nubic.northwestern.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=93P9HHRYXXDMLYTD

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Johnson, PhD

Study Title: Behavioral and neural mechanisms of memory across the lifespan

IRB#: STU00216728

6/21/2024

We are seeking young people to participate in a research project at Northwestern University about how the relationships between social networks, personality, and unusual thoughts some people may have fluctuate over a brief period. The goal of this research is to increase understanding of how social interactions influence mental health concerns and/or mental health concerns influence social interactions.

You may be eligible for this study if you are between 12 and 34 years of age. The study would entail coming in for 3 visits each approximately one week apart, and you will be compensated $25 per hour for your participation. During these sessions, you will complete questionnaires about unusual thoughts and experiences, mental health symptoms, and your social network and a brief interview with a researcher about your social life.

If you are interested, please email us at adapt@northwestern.edu, and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.

Principal investigator: Dr. Vijay Mittal

Study Title: ORBITZ

IRB#: STU00203263

1/25/2023

We are seeking young people who are concerned about recent changes in mood, thinking or behavior. This research project aims to increase understanding of mental health concerns in young people and how to prevent the development of a more serious mental illness such as psychosis.

You may be eligible for the study if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Ages 12 - 30
• Noticing a recent change in thinking, behavior, or experiences, such as:
• Confusion about what is real or imaginary
• Feeling not in control of your own thoughts of ideas
• Feeling suspicious or paranoid
• Having experiences that may not be real, such as hearing sounds or seeing things that may not be there
• Having trouble communicating clearly

 

The study would entail visits over a 2-year period, and you would be paid $30 per hour for your participation.  Eligible participants will be asked to come in for various assessments including:

• clinical interviews
• biological assessments (MRI & EEG brain scans; blood and saliva testing)
• cognitive testing

 

If you are interested, please email us at adapt@northwestern.edu or fill out this online eligibility survey, and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.

 

Principal investigator: Dr. Vijay Mittal
Study Title: ProNET
IRB #: STU00215145