NNL Project 

The purpose of the study is to create a large collection of brain MRI scans and other information from healthy individuals. The Library will be a resource for doctors and scientists to compare the MRI scans of people with disorders or diseases with the MRI scans of healthy people from this collection. In addition to the brain MRI scans, we also collect information from participants that may relate to brain structure or function, such as age, gender, handedness, medical history, and tests about how people think. Collection of a large set of this kind of information may help doctors and scientists better understand and diagnose brain disorders and diseases, such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, neurodegenerative diseases, and many other problems. We are interested in collecting data in both general community volunteers as well as those with a history in the military (active duty, reserves, Veterans)

Apply Below: We will then email you with a good time to call and take you through the initial interview

Initial interview: We will first determine if you are eligible to participate in the project. You will be asked some questions about your age, gender, race/ethnicity, handedness, and medical history. We will also ask some general questions related to whether you can safely and comfortably have an MRI. This part will take about 10-15 minutes, and can be conducted over the phone. 

Assessment: If you are eligible, you will be asked to take some standardized tests of your thinking abilities. These will include tests of attention, information processing, learning and memory, and other similar tasks. Some of these tests are paper and pencil tests and some will be administered on an iPad. You will also be asked complete questionnaires and answer questions about different symptoms. All together, these tests will take approximately 2 hours. You may ask for breaks if needed. If you continue to be eligible for participation in this project, you will be asked to participate in the MRI.   

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): You then will be asked to have an MRI at the site. A clinical coordinator will take you to the MRI unit for the scan and ask you to complete an MRI Safety Form. The MRI Safety Form will help decide if an MRI is safe for you. (For example, if you may be pregnant or have metal or devices in or around your body, it is not safe to have an MRI.)MRI is a scan that does not use radiation. MRI creates images of the brain from magnetic signals. The MRI scan involves lying still on a table that moves into a hollow machine (the magnet) to create the images. The MRI examination requires about 90 minutes.  

Compensation: You will not be charged, nor will your insurance company be charged, for any test or visit that is completed solely for the purpose of this study. Participants will be paid $25 for the initial screening assessment and an additional $125 for the assessment and MRI portions of the study if they are eligible. You will receive payment in the form of a check approximately 2 weeks after participation.