Qualified participants will complete the following.
- Clinical interviews concerning your medical and psychiatric history, family psychiatric history, mood symptoms, and other lifetime experiences
- Donation of a DNA sample (either blood or saliva)
- Surveys that ask about life experiences and personality characteristics
- A safe and non-invasive fMRI scan
- A non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) test while you complete listening and visual tasks. This test is used to measure the electrical brain activity that your brain naturally produces.
- A non-invasive eye-tracking test that will measure how well you can follow a moving target on a computer screen with your eyes
- Cognitive testing that assesses memory, visual skills, concentration, and motor skills
All study procedures will take approximately 12 – 14 hours to complete. These tasks are split up over at least two appointment days. There are no medications or treatment involved in this study. You may have the option to not do any particular task you are not comfortable with. Any and all information collected about you will be kept confidential. Only the research staff will have access to this information.
What do I get out of this?
Participants are compensated $20 per hour when completing study procedures (via a prepaid credit card). You may also request a CD copy of your MRI, if desired. You will be provided with a lunch voucher for the IOL cafeteria should your visit span through lunchtime. We can provide transportation to and from the appointment using Uber or Valley Cab services if needed.
Additionally, through your participation, you may provide information that will benefit future patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder.