Volunteer for a Study!

We depend on volunteers to participate in our studies. Please see below for more information and sign up using the calendar at the bottom of the page.

Research participants will receive a compensation payment of $20 for their time. Total time of experiment per person is estimated to be 1.5 hours for the light/sound experiment and 1.5 to 2 hours for the face detection experiment.
**Please note, one person can only sign up once per experiment.**

Experiments:

Please see “Current Recruitment” section at the bottom of this page to see what we are current recruiting for!

Note that all current experiments are done in a sound isolation booth of interior dimensions of approximately 3 feet by 6 feet (1 meter by 2 meters).

Face Detection (1.5 to 2 hours)

You will sit in front of laptop watching a display of static noise. A cartoon smiley face random appears within the static for 1/10 of a second. Click a mouse button depending on whether you think you saw the face or not.

Sign-ups only via UCSB’s SONA System.

Light and Sound (1.5 hours)

You will sit in darkness with some white noise. The monitor will randomly flash to white or a buzzer will beep loudly. There are two variants to this experiment:

Variant 1 (Passive): The monitor will flash to white randomly for 0.6 seconds or a buzzer will sound for 1.2 seconds, also randomly. This experiment is very passive - you will just sit and watch.

Variant 2 (Active): The monitor flash and beep are combined into a single event lasting 0.6 seconds. This experiment is less passive - you have to press a button when you experience the flash/beep.

Sign-up for Variant 2 via UCSB’s SONA System.

Requirements:

Your safety is important to use. Please review the following requirements before signing up.

  • Hair style allows placement of EEG cap (no mohawks or other hairdos which stick up rigidly).
  • Unimpaired or corrected vision
  • Unimpaired hearing
  • No pacemakers
  • No serious neurological disorders
  • No one diagnosed with epilepsy or susceptible to seizures
  • Must not have a history of migraine headache
  • Must never have had a seizure due to flashing lights
  • Must not have PTSD
  • Must not have Claustrophobia
  • Must not have a panic disorder

Bottled water will be available.