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We are conducting a study to better understand changes in thinking and feeling that occur in adolescence.

If you have a child who is between the ages of 11 and 14-years-old, we would appreciate your help!

What do I have to do?

The study involves:

• Two to three visits that each involve an interview and an EEG.
  • Interview - you and your child will meet with a trained interviewer that will ask questions about thoughts, feelings and behavior.
  • EEG - we will record your child’s brain activity during some computer-based tasks.
    
  • All of these recordings are completely painless and safe. We have been doing EEG research for the past 10 years, in children as young as 8 years old.
• Each visit will last between 2.5 and 4 hours, depending on the number of specific tasks you and your child are selected to participate in.
• For some families, there will be some additional computer training at home. This would be for your child and takes about 30 minutes a week. The program trains attention. Learn more about attention training here, and see what the program looks like here.

Why should I help?

Studies like this one help researchers to understand changes in adolescence which can provide useful information about the development of anxiety. In the future, information obtained from studies like this with help from people like you can be used to create more effective strategies to treat anxiety.

Some other benefits include:

• Your child gets to see what their brain waves look like!
  
  
  
• we will pay an honorarium of $20 per hour, plus some additional bonuses and prizes!
  
  

  Download the consent form here to learn more:

  • San Diego Consent

  • San Diego Assent

  • Florida Consent

  • Florida Assent

  
  
  

  Brain Workshops and event booths

  We have presented workshops about the Brain at Boys and Girls Clubs of San Diego and have held event booths at kids' fairs such as YMCA Healthy Kids Day 2017 (Toby Wells YMCA). Our Florida team is also available for brain workshops and community events.

  
  
  

  Workshops:

  • We can come to your middle school, club, group or after school program to talk about what the brain does, what EEG is and how it's recorded, and show kids their brainwaves in real-time!
  
  

  Event Booths

  • If you are holding an event or fair at your school or club we would be happy to attend with a booth about our study and about the brain!
  • Booths can include brainwave recordings, spin-the-wheel and trivia (with prizes) and information about our study and how to sign up.

  Contact us if you'd like to request a workshop or an event booth (it's FREE).
  

  Frequently Asked Questions

  
  

  What is an EEG? What is involved in the study? Are there any painful/invasive procedures?

  EEG stands for electroencephalogram. It’s a completely non-invasive way to look at your son or daughters brain activity using water soluble gel, some sensors, and a little swimmers-type cap while they play computer games. We actually get to show them their brain activity as well, which they usually enjoy.

  What do you do with the results? Do we get to find out about the results? Will you be giving me feedback on my child?

  The information we gather is for research purposes, and much of it does not have practical applications yet. We plan to publish the results of this research project in scientific journals and books to be used by psychologists, health care professionals, teachers and educators, and others. We also will describe these findings on our website, and you will be able to follow progress of this research there.

  Can my other child/children participate?

  Unfortunately, only one child per family can participate in this study. However, if your other child would be interested in participating in a future study, there may be opportunities for them to do so.

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