SIUC / College of Science / Zoology / Faculty / David King / Bipolar

 

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VOLUNTEERS
FOR
BRAIN RESEARCH

This project is no longer seeking volunteers.  
An abstract of preliminary results is available here.  

Project Web Page

If you live in or visit southern Illinois,
you are invited to contribute one hour of your time for
a study of visual perception, brain function, and heredity.
Help us learn more about:

• NEUROSCIENCE
     
• VISION
     
• BRAIN DISORDERS
     
• GENETICS

To participate in this study,
please see contact information below

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Perceptual alternation in binocular rivalry:
Heritability and correlation with brain disorders.

PURPOSE
This study will measure an aspect of visual perception called binocular rivalry, in which different images presented to the two eyes compete for conscious attention.

Preliminary evidence suggests that measurement of binocular rivalry might be useful for diagnosing bipolar disorder (also called manic depression) and schizophrenia.  To test this hypothesis, data must be collected from a diverse population, including a large sample of normal, healthy participants.

Additionally, data from family groups will be used for assessing heritability of variation in binocular rivalry, to learn whether such variation displays a pattern of genetic anticipation similar to that shown by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and several other neurological diseases.

Besides offering insight into the mechanisms underlying abnormal brain function, neuroscience research such as this study will hopefully advance our understanding of how the normal brain organizes and interprets information.  .

A more detailed description of the scientific rationale for this project is available at the Project Web Page.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
If you volunteer, you will be given an appointment time, a temporary parking permit, and directions to a laboratory at SIU School of Medicine in Carbondale.

When you arrive at the laboratory, you will be given an informed consent form, introduced to project staff, and interviewed concerning your personal and family medical history.  Individual records will be kept confidential and used solely for statistical analysis.

After the interview, you will be equipped with computer-controlled stereoscopic glasses and seated in front of a computer display screen.  For about forty-five minutes, your task will be to indicate what you see on the display by pressing buttons on a computer mouse.

Additional time may be involved if you would like to discuss the study or ask questions.

A more detailed description of the procedure for this project is available at the Project Web Page.

The procedures to be followed in this study have been reviewed and approved by the SIU Human Subjects Committee (the local institutional review board).

QUALIFICATIONS
Adults of all ages, races, and genders are sought for participation in this study.  Normal vision in both eyes (eyeglasses are OK) is required.

Especially helpful will be closely related volunteers (brothers and sisters, parents with mature children, extended family groups) and volunteers with personal or family history of brain disorder.

MINIMAL RISK
Potential risks to participants in this research should be no greater than those of daily living.  Most participants are expected to enjoy the visual task, though a few may experience minor eyestrain.

This study does not involve the testing of any medical treatment or therapy.

POTENTIAL BENEFIT
This study is aimed at understanding brain function associated with normal perception and with certain brain disorders.  Although hope that such research will lead to improvements in medical diagnosis and care, participants in this study should expect no direct personal benefits apart from contribution to scientific knowledge.

Your willingness to participate in this study is greatly appreciated by the investigator.

This project is supported by a grant from the National Alliance for Research for Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD).

Contact Information
This project is no longer seeking volunteers.  To request more information, please contact:

David G. King, Ph.D.
dgking@siu.edu
at
Department of Anatomy
School of Medicine
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 62901-6523

(618) 453-1509

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