Background
The Neuroeconomics research group at the University of Antwerp is looking for volunteers to participate in an fMRI study on decision-making. Volunteers will be remunerated for their participation (30-50 eur).
The study has a duration of 1h30min/2h and will take place at UZ Gent (Ghent University Hospital Antwerp, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent) during the next months.
If you are interested in participating, please read the information below thoroughly and complete an online questionnaire (± 10 min). This questionnaire (in English and Nederlands) is available via the button at the bottom of this page. We will then contact the selected volunteers as soon as possible to arrange a session.
EXPERIMENT INFORMATION - Link to Dutch version below
Note: The experiment (instructions, task in the scanner and some pre- and post- scanning measures) will be carried out in English.
Before you decide to participate, it is important that you understand why the study is being conducted and what the study entails. The link to register will appear below this text.
1. Purpose and description of the study
The goal is to use a functional brain scan to identify the parts of the brain that guide your economic decisions in a social context, and how they change when the context changes. The procedure is painless and harmless.
The study consists of two parts. First, upon registering on this site, you will be asked to complete three online questionnaires: (1) an fMRI screening form, (2) a (left / right) handiness scale, (3) a personality questionnaire. We estimate that it takes about 10-15 minutes to complete these questionnaires. You will receive the first two questionnaires immediately upon registering. If you meet all the criteria to participate in this study, you will receive the third questionnaire and also be contacted by a researcher to set a date for the second part, namely the scan session. This will take place in the MRI department of Ghent University Hospital. The session will take approximately one and a half hours, of which you will not be more than 60 minutes in the scanner.
You will be financially compensated for your participation in the scan session. You will receive 30 euros for your arrival + a bonus that can vary between 0 and 20 euros depending on the decisions you take during the execution of the task. A total of 50 subjects will participate in this study.
We are always available to answer your questions or if you require additional information (see the “contact persons” below). The researchers involved are Dr. Paloma Diaz-Gutierrez and Mr. Harshil Vyas. The principal investigators of this study are Prof. Dr. Declerck, Prof. Dr. C. Boone, and Prof. Dr. Achten. This study consists of fundamental scientific research and therefore there is no direct additional benefit for the researchers. You can register for participation by clicking on the link at the bottom of this information letter.
2. Participation and termination
Your participation in this study is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving any reason and without affecting your further relationship with the researchers. If you participate, you will receive an extended version of this information again (both in English and Nederlands) on the day of the scan session and you will be asked to sign the consent form.
3. Procedures during the scan session
When you arrive for the scan session, you will first be instructed on the task that you will be performing via a computer in the scanner, and you will be given time to practice this. Then an employee will help you with the scan session. We briefly explain what you can expect: You will be placed in a supine position (laying down) in the tube of the scanner. You do not have to undress, but all metal or magnetic objects (watches, jewellery, bank cards, etc.) must be discarded. The tube is fairly narrow, but you can see it out through a mirror. The device also makes a lot of noise during the recordings, so you wear earplugs and protective headphones. You always stay in contact with the researchers via a microphone, so that you can still ask additional questions. For people with claustrophobia, it can be unpleasant to lie in the scanner tube and participation is not recommended. The MRI technique is painless and does not require injections or medication and is completely harmless. The examination technique requires that you keep your head as still as possible during the entire duration of the examination. In total, you will be in the scanner for about 50 minutes, but you will be able to take a break between the different parts of the task. Finally, when the task is completed and you are removed from the scanner, an employee will question your impression of the research verbally and via a questionnaire.
4. Criteria for participation
To participate you must:
- Be between 18 and 36 years old to participate.
- Make sure you are NOT pregnant
- Right-handed
- Have no neurological history
- Do not suffer from claustrophobia
- Do not have a pacemaker, metal heart valve, metal splinter or other metal objects (for example wires attached to the teeth, stitches, ...) in the body. You can participate if you have piercings that can be removed. For dental artefacts, please inform the researcher during registration.
- If you are under any kind of medication, please indicate so during registration.
An anatomical scan of your brain will also be taken as part of this examination. These scans will be screened by a neuroradiologist. Should an unexpected brain disorder appear on this scan that requires medical attention, the neuroradiologist will inform you about this and possibly invite you for additional examination. If you do not want this, you cannot participate in the study. We emphasize that this anatomical scan is not a fully-fledged diagnostic tool and cannot in itself provide a definitive answer about the presence or absence of a brain disorder.
This study was approved by an independent Committee for Medical Ethics affiliated with UZ Gent and UGent and is carried out according to the guidelines for good clinical practice (ICH / GCP) and the Declaration of Helsinki drawn up to protect people participating in clinical studies. Under no circumstances should you consider the approval of the Committee on Medical Ethics as an impetus to participate in this study.
5. Confidentiality
Except when registering and signing the consent form, your name will not be used in this study. Your name is linked to a code, which replaces your name in the processing of the results. The data obtained will not be shared with persons outside the research group. In this way, complete anonymity is guaranteed.
The participant has the right access to the data that has been collected about her/him personally.
6. Contact information
Dr. Paloma Diaz-Gutierrez
Paloma.DiazGutierrez@uantwerpen.be
University of Antwerp
Faculty of Business and Economics
Prinsstraat 132000 Antwerpen
If you wish to register for the experiment, please click on the button (you can choose the language version):