Participate in Research
Brain Imaging Studies
Electrophysiological Studies
Attention Training
Stress-Reduction Training

Research Projects

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction
We are currently recruiting research volunteers who will be participating in Penn's Stress Mangagement’s 8-wk MBSR course.

Functional Brain Imaging
Functional brain imaging uses an MRI scanner, which is a strong magnet. Similar to standard diagnostic MRI, functional MRI (fMRI) uses the MRI scanner in novel ways to image the function of the brain. In particular, we will use this new technique to identify brain structures involved in certain aspects of attention, memory, and learning.

PURPOSE: In this study, special MRIs will be taken which provide information about what areas of the brain are made active by particular kinds of visual stimuli such as faces and houses. The purpose of the study is to determine the critical brain areas that are needed for humans to pay attention, learn, and remember information over short periods of time.

PROCEDURES: Although the measurement is painless, it will be somewhat noisy inside the magnet due to beeping and hammering sounds made when the magnetic gradients are pulsed. Disposable earplugs or padded headphones will be provided to diminish the noise. You will be asked to lie down on a platform which can be slid into the hole, or bore, of the magnet. An MRI imaging coil will be placed around your head; this coil is simply a number of wires covered in plastic. You will not come in contact with the coil during the experiment. Foam pads will be placed around your head to limit head movement during the study. You will then be slid into the magnet. You will be asked to lie still for the entire testing session, during which time several MRI images will be acquired. At different points during the procedure, you will be asked to perform tasks which activate specific brain functions. For example, you may be asked to remember pictures of faces, objects, letters, or read words and solve verbal problems while MRI scans are being taken. None of these activation procedures are painful. We will ask you to come in for scanning two times. One session will take place before your MBSR course begins. The second session will take place within one week after the course has ended. Each scanning session will take two hours. You will receive cash compensation for your participation in the fMRI experiment.

RISKS: There are no known risks with this procedure at this time since the radiowaves and magnetic fields, at the strengths used, are harmless. There are conservative Federal guidelines for radiowave exposure and our examinations fall within those guidelines.
Because of the magnetic fields people with cardiac pacemakers or a certain metallic implants cannot participate in the study. It is important that all metallic objects be removed from your person prior to approaching the high field strength magnet, as these objects may be attracted to the magnet. In addition, watches and credit cards should also be removed as these could be damaged. If you are or could be pregnant, the effects of the scan on a fetus are unknown and, therefore, we will not perform the examination on you. You will be told if any new information is learned which may affect your condition or influence your willingness to continue participation in this study.

BENEFITS: There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this study. You will contribute to our knowledge of the influence of MBSR training on the human attention, memory, and learning systems. We cannot and do not promise any direct benefits to you from your participation in this study.

Human Electrophysiology
Human electrophysiology is the technology of brain wave recording using electrodes placed on the scalp. We will use this technique to identify timing of mental events such as the ability to attend, learn, and remember information.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to study the electrical activity of your brain and how it changes when you see, hear, or feel particular stimuli and make responses to them. In this study, you may see pictures of objects, abstract designs, faces, or words or you may hear tones, noise, or speech sounds. You will be asked to press a button or keep a mental count whenever particular stimuli occur. Not all of these stimuli will occur in every experiment. The experimenter will provide exact information about the stimuli to be used in this study. None of these stimuli should cause pain or discomfort.

PROCEDURES: In this study, we will attach electrodes to the skin of your scalp, forehead, chin, and earlobes. We will first measure your head, make small marks with a wax pencil, and then clean the skin where the electrode will be placed with alcohol to remove skin oils. The skin will be rubbed vigorously with electrode paste. The electrode paste is mildly abrasive, so you might experience a slight reddening of the skin. This is normal and will disappear shortly after the electrodes are removed. The electrodes are small disks that are placed over the skin and are held in place by tape and by a gauze wrap that we place around your head. In some experiments, the electrodes are held in place by a fabric cap and velcro straps. Placing the electrodes usually takes from 20 to 40 minutes. The experimenter will inform you if your particular study involves looking at stimuli or hearing sounds. If the experiment involves looking at visual stimuli, they will appear on a small video display. If the experiment involves hearing stimuli, they will be presented through headphones. During the study, you will be asked to remain quiet and motionless while the stimuli are delivered. In most studies, you will be given a small box with buttons or a standard keyboard, and asked to push a button whenever a particular stimulus appears. Alternatively, you may be asked to keep a mental count of particular stimuli. For example, you may be asked to mentally count the number of loud tones that occur in a mixed series of loud and soft tones. One session will take place before your MBSR course begins. The second session will take place within one week after the course has ended. Each experimental session will take two hours. You will receive cash compensation for your participation in this experiment.

RISKS: There are no significant health risks involved with this study, which is similar to a routine electroencephalogram (EEG or brain wave test). There is a slight risk of local skin irritation where the electrodes contact the skin.

BENEFITS: There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this study. You will contribute to our knowledge of the influence of MBSR training on the human attention, memory, and learning systems. We cannot and do not promise any direct benefits to you from your participation in this study.

Behavioral Studies
This research project aims to clarify the impact of MBSR on the attention, learning, and memory systems. Your participation in the study will involve evaluation of your memory abilities with paper-and-pencil and computerized tests.

PROCEDURES: We will ask you to perform tests that require you to attend, learn, and remember faces, objects, letters, words, and pictures, answer questions, describe and remember words or pictures, press buttons, and the like. One session will take place before your MBSR course begins. The second session will take place within one week after the course has ended. Each experimental session will take two hours. You will receive cash compensation for your participation in this experiment.

RISKS: This study poses no known risks. The testing, as with any testing, may be an inconvenience and cause fatigue, but the tests are not known to cause undue distress.

BENEFITS: There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this study. You will contribute to our knowledge of the influence of MBSR training on the human attention, memory, and learning systems. We cannot and do not promise any direct benefits to you from your participation in this study.