Study Information

We are seeking participants for a study of eye movements and brain activity during learning.

What does my participation entail?

The study has two parts lasting around 2.5 - 3.5 hours total. The study requires one visit of between 2 and 3 hours to the lab on CU Boulder’s East Campus (1777 Exposition Dr., Boulder, CO 80309), plus one 30-minute follow-up questionnaire to be completed online.

Session 1 will involve having your eye movements, physiological responses (e.g. heart rate), video of your face/upper body, and brain activity noninvasively recorded while you complete a computer-based reading task and answer several questionnaires. It will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. We will also ask to see your school ID or drivers license to verify your age. About a week later, you will complete Session 2: a 30-minute online survey, which you can do from home at your convenience.

Study outline

Session 1 will take 2-3 hours total.

Session 2 will take 30 minutes.

The following sensors will be used throughout Session 1:

Gaze tracking

• an eye tracker will be calibrated to your eye position and will capture your gaze while you are reading

• The eye tracker is a specialized camera which sits below the computer monitor and is not invasive in any way.

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

• the electrodes in the EEG can pick up the small amount of electrical activity caused by neurons firing in the brain. The device will be worn on a cap on their head.

• An electrically conductive gel will be placed on your scalp and hair. It will remain in your hair until you take a shower after the study and may cause minor skin irritation.

• We do not provide shower facilities, so please plan your day accordingly! You may wish to bring a hat to wear after the session.

• The sensors will need to be placed at specific locations on your scalp so we are regrettably not able to work around a hair weave or extensions. Please let us know if this affects you - we can plan to go ahead without EEG.

Functional-Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

• This measures the blood flow in your brain that is caused by brain activity.

• Non-invasive light in the near-infrared range (690nm and 830nm) is sent into your scalp.

• Based on the way the light is reflected out of your scalp, information about the blood flow in your brain can be determined.

• The device will be worn on a cap on your head.

Shimmer

Wireless wrist band sensor that records

• your pulse,

• electrodermal activity (arousal of the sympathetic nervous system),

• skin temperature

• 3-axis accelerometer (to correct for motion artifacts).

Video

• Facial expressions and body position will be extracted from video recorded of your face and upper body.

For Session 2, you will answer more questions about the text and complete a series of individual differences assessments. This session should take 30 minutes and will be completed through an online survey link for you to do at home a week after session 1.

Payment information

For Session 1 you will be paid $20 per hour, for a total of $40-60. Upon completion of Session 2 you will receive an additional $10. Note that travel compensation is not provided.

Further details

If you choose to take part, you will be provided with a paper copy of this consent/assent form on arrival for the study and asked to sign if you wish to participate.