Participate in research

We continuously welcome volunteers to join our studies listed below.

High Spatiotemporal Resolution Imaging of Human Brain Activity in Complex Audiovisual Stimulus Processing

Investigator: Dr. Fa-Hsuan Lin

Our research aims to better understand how our brains work by studying brain activity during behavioral tests that measure cognitive functions. Brain research relies heavily on human subjects. Your participation can lead to the development of new or more effective healthcare treatments.

We are looking for the following individuals to participate in the study:

• Between 20 and 80 years of age
• With normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• With no contraindication to MRI
• With no claustrophobia
• Belonging to either one of the two groups below:
• Healthy control group: no history of neurological, neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, hearing impairment, or psychiatric disorders.
• Patient group (meet one of the following criteria):
• With autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, or depression diagnosed by DSM-5 criteria.
• With a neurological disorder caused by structural, biochemical, or electrical abnormality in the brain.
• With a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects cognition, communication, emotion expression, impulse control and/or learning abilities.
• With a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration or death of nerve cells.
• With hearing impairment with MR-safe cochlear implants.

Participation in this research study will include:

• One 2- to 3-hour visit to Sunnybrook.
• During your study visit you will be asked to
• Have an MRI scan.
• Wear a cap to record the electrical activity of your brain and put electrodes to your scalp using conductive gel, during an EEG test.
• Mount electrodes on your skin to measure the electrical conductivity, muscle, or heart activity.
• Record the positions and motions of your eyes with an eye-tracker.
• You will be asked to perform the following tasks during MRI scans:
• Watch short movies
• Listen to music
• Respond to auditory or visual stimuli by pressing buttons

The procedures we use in this research are non-invasive and safe. Small monetary compensation will be offered to participants after completing the study.

For more information, please call Dr. Hsin-Ju Lee at 437-345-2700 or email linlab.recruitment@sunnybrook.ca