Ultrasound brain stimulation in emotion and decision making

We are interested in understanding how specific brain circuits influence emotion processing and decision making. This will ultimately help us better understand mental health disorders which can affect the same circuits. To study this, we combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique which can reach deep brain structures using ultrasound waves.

What is required? 

The study involves four visits. During each visit, you would be asked to lie still in an MRI scanner. During the 2nd, 3rd and 4th visit, we would deliver ultrasound stimulation before you enter the scanner, and you would perform a simple computer task in the scanner. The first visit takes about 1 hour, and the three subsequent visits take approximately 3 hours, of which about 1.5 hours will be spent in the MRI scanner. 

You will receive compensation for taking part.

Who are we looking for?  Healthy fluent English-speaking right-handed men or women aged 18-40 years who are not pregnant and who have normal or corrected to normal vision. You will be contacted beforehand to check your eligibility (including questions about your medical history) for undergoing MRI scanning and neurostimulation. 

If you are interested, please contact Miruna Rascu (miruna.rascu@psy.ox.ac.uk) for more details.

Research Ethics Project Number: CUREC ref R85030/RE001