Understanding language production using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

What is the purpose of this research?

The purpose of the research is to gain a better understanding of how the brain processes and produces language.

Are you looking for people like me?

To participate in the study, you must:

• be aged 18-45
• be right handed
• have English as your first language (because the brain represents language differently for people who are bilingual and monolingual)
• have normal vision or corrected vision using contact lenses
• have no hearing impairments
• have no history of neurological or psychiatric condition, learning disability or developmental speech/language impairment, previous head injury, or a family history of epilepsy
• not be using or have used psychotropic medication in the past two years.

What will you ask me to do?

The participation includes one MRI (structural brain scan) session and three TMS (brain stimulation) sessions, taking up to 4.5 hours in total.

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

TMS carries a risk of causing seizures in susceptible individuals. However, the risk is rare (less than 0.1%) in persons who have passed the safety screening questionnaire.

You may experience some local pain, headache and discomfort during TMS. The risk of these side effects is low (about three in every 100 participants).

TMS can cause ringing in the ears and/or changes in hearing by the clicking sound of the TMS equipment during operation. The risk of hearing side effects is low (about three in every 100 participants). You will be given foam earplugs or headphones to minimise these effects during TMS.

Will I be compensated for my time?

You will receive a $60 Amazon gift cards in total, and a 3D scan of your brain.

I am interested - what should I do next?

Contact Lydia Z Huang via email zhicheng.huang@hdr.qut.edu.au.