Study Participants
Special Groups
We are conducting a series of experiments to investigate the effects of alternated sensory conditions on the brain: e.g. what are the differences and similarities of spoken and sign language?; how do remaining sensory modalities perform in the absence of one modality?; how does the brain react on the regained assess to a deprived modality? And many more. For these projects we are looking for the following participants forour studies:
- Deaf individuals
- Cochlea implanted individuals
- CODAs
- Blind individuals
- Visually impaired individuals
- Cataract individuals
We would be happy to give you further information about current projects in detail and would be happy about your support of our studies!
Blind and visually impaired persons can find additional information here [LINK].
Please contact Angelika Quade (angelika.quade@uni-hamburg.de) for further information!!
Students
We always look for participants in our studies (behavioral experiments, EEG experiments, fMRI experiments, TMS experiments). Undergraduate / BSc students receive credit points for partecipation. Some experiments include monetary recompensation.
A broad numer of studies (participation in turn of study credits) can be found in SONA [LINK]. Please check the faculty black boards as well for study anouncements!
Participant List
We have a list with persons, interessted in participation in our studies. In case we are looking for participants we will contact persons on the list, inform them about the current project and will invite you to participate. In case the person is interessted in participating in the specific study we will make an appointment. Rejecting the participation does not bear any consequences. If you would like to be added to our list, please contact Mrs. Tödter (phone: 040-42838-5023; Email: dagmar.toedter(at)uni-hamburg.de). Your data will only be used for participant recruitement in our lab and never passed on to somebody else.
Data Protection
All data is analyzed in an anonymous way, meaning: person-related data is never stored on computers with internet connection. In case of partecipation in a study, your personal data receives a running experimental number. This number is used in the whole analysis procedure. Nobody except the experimenter can infer the participant's identity.
Behavioral Experiments
In behavioral experiments, tasks require fast and/or correct reactions. Reaction times and error rates are recorded and analyzed.
EEG
For recording the task-related electrical activity of the brain, electrodes have to be placed on the head. Electrodes our mounted on a special elastic cap, which the participant wears during the experiment. To measure brain activity, the scalp and the electrodes need to be in contact. A conducting creme is used to bridge this gap, after the scalp was cleaned. The creme can be washed out easily in our laboratory bathroom. Participation in an EEG study does not hurt and bears no risks for participants. You should bring some time and patience, as application of the electrodes, instruction, the experiment itself, dismounting of the electrodes and washing the hair can take up to 4-5 hours. Earrings and piercings (all metal objects at the head) have to be removed during the experiment. For some studies, contact lenses have to be removed as well.
fMRI
The magnetic resonance scanner used in our studies is located at the university hospital Eppendorf (UKE), building S10, close to the main entrance. Close to the scanner there is a high but innocuous magnetic field. Persons carrying magnetic objects at or within the body (e.g. pivot tooth, pace maker, loop) are not allowed to participate in MRI studies. Prior to an experiment, every participant is interviewed by a doctor to exclude such risks. During the experiment, pictures of the brain's blood-flow are recorded, while the participant is engaged in some task. The magnetic resonance scanner is loud, participants wear ear plugs for protection.