Research to develop better brain stimulation techniques

Help us better understand response to brain stimulation!

18 to 65 year-old healthy participants wanted for neuroscience research developing better brain stimulation techniques

What is involved?

A thin needle (about the width of a human hair) will be inserted through the skin into a nerve in your arm and another into a muscle in your hand. This will be used to record nerve activity caused by a safe and non-invasive form of brain stimulation called TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation. Both procedures are well tolerated, but you shouldn’t volunteer if you are not comfortable with needles.

You will not be able to take part in this study if you:

  • have ever had a seizure or seizure disorder (e.g., epilepsy)
  • have had brain surgery, or a serious brain injury or neurological condition
  • have a serious and/or unstable illness or medical condition
  • are pregnant, or there is a chance that you might be pregnant
  • are a professional driver or machine operator

You might not be able to take part in this study if you:

  • have difficulty tolerating needles
  • are taking certain types of medication (but not including over the counter pain medicine or birth control)
  • have any metal in your head (outside the mouth)
  • have an implanted medical device
  • get frequent headaches or migraines
  • are prone to fainting
  • have had an adverse reaction to brain stimulation

You will temporarily not be able to receive TMS if you have:

  • consumed alcohol in the 12 hours prior to TMS
  • had more than 3 standard drinks in the 24 hours prior to TMS
  • consumed any recreational drugs in the past 7 days
  • recently experienced insomnia or another form of sleep deprivation
  • had a recent change in your sleeping, smoking, or drinking habits, or caffeine intake

$75 for one 3-hour session in the the Brain Stimulation Laboratory at 607 St Kilda Road or the Human Neurophysiology Laboratory at 99 Commercial Road Melbourne.

Contact

For further information and to get started, please contact:

Study details

  • MUHREC Project number: 45198
  • Can the transcranial magnetic stimulation evoked corticospinal volley be recorded from peripheral nerves?