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Participant Recruitment Registry

​Research is our best hope for understanding and treating mental illnesses. Thanks to help from volunteers, researchers are learning more and more about the causes of mental and behavioral disorders, and are finding new ways to treat and prevent illnesses. We are always recruiting individuals of all ages and races to participate in our studies.  

The Mind Research Network would like to invite you to join our Participant Recruitment Registry (PRR), a program that helps us identify individuals who are eligible for and interested in participating in scientific research.  Participation in the PRR is for research purposes only and is entirely voluntary. If you choose to register, the information you provide will be kept confidential.  If you would like to be contacted about future research studies and are interested in participating in the registry, please click HERE to log in or create a new account.

You can also participate by contacting the study team directly. Studies recruiting at the Mind Research Network and Lovelace Scientific Resources are listed below.  We thank you in advance for your contribution to our research mission!

Cognitive Neuroscience of Reward

James F Cavanagh, PhD, Depression Research

Purpose of Study: This project looks at the brain’s responses to reward in depressed and non-depressed participants.

Protocol Summary: Participants may be asked to do any of the following activities: Complete a confidential interview and answer questionnaires regarding their mood and feelings. Have their brain monitored using either MEG (about 1 hour of assessment and up to 1 hour of setup) or MRI (about 1 hour). Play simple learning video games for rewarding outcomes. May be contacted six months prior to the study to answer some simple questions via phone call. Participants will be compensated $20 - $30 an hour for their time.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Men or women aged 18-55. In Aim 2, participants will need to either meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder via a Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 (SCID), or have an absence of symptoms to qualify as a control. Free from psychoactive medication for at least 2 weeks.

505-289-0734    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 20818

ASCEND Study

Julia Stephen, PhD , Neurodevelopment

Purpose of Study: This research is being done to evaluate brain development in typically developing children 4-7 years of age relative to children 4-7 years of age with prenatal alcohol exposure.

Protocol Summary: During this study, your child will see a pediatrician for a brief physical and your child will perform some paper and pencil/computer tests to evaluate their development. Pictures of your child’s brain and brain activity will be measured using non-invasive and harmless devices called MEG (Magnetoencephalography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). All participants will be given cash of $80 or $40 depending on the study visit for participating in the study. Depending on the age of your child at enrollment, your child will return for up to three additional annual visits with additional cash provided for each study visit.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Children between the ages of 4-7 years old, who have never been diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological disorder. Parent(s) must be able to give valid informed consent and be fluent in English.

505-272-9297    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 20-078

Brain, Behavior, and Personality

Kent Kiehl, PhD, Other Neuroimaging Research

Purpose of Study: The Mind Research Network is looking for healthy individuals to participate in our brain imaging research studies.

Protocol Summary: Qualifying individuals will be asked to complete interviews, paper and pencil tests, questionnaires, and MRI scans. All tests are noninvasive and safe, and you can choose to quit the study at any time. Participants will earn $20/hour.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: The study is open to males ages 14-21. All individuals the ages of 14-17 must get parent or guardian consent before participating in the study. If you are interested in joining this study, please visit https://portal.trendscenter.org/p2/?stype=25621 to find out if you are eligible.

505-301-2658 or 505-301-5589    Study #: 15-050

Brain, Behavior, and Personality 2

Kent Kiehl, PhD, Other Neuroimaging Research

Purpose of Study: The Mind Research Network is looking for healthy individuals to participate in our brain imaging research studies.

Protocol Summary: Qualifying individuals will be asked to complete interviews, paper and pencil tests, questionnaires, and MRI scans. All tests are noninvasive and safe, and you can choose to quit the study at any time. Participants will earn $20/hour.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: The study is open to male and female adults age 18 and older. If your interested in joining the study, please visit: https://p2.trendscenter.org/signup/19861

505-301-2658    Study #: 15050

BrainPower Study: Cognitive Enhancement with Neurofeedback

Vadim Zotev, PhD, Neuromodulation Research

Purpose of Study: The study examines effects of fMRI neurofeedback and EEG neurofeedback training on cognitive performance in healthy adults.

Protocol Summary: Participants will learn to directly control physiological activity of their brain using either fMRI or EEG neurofeedback during MRI scanning to improve their memory and math skills. Participants will wear an EEG electrode cap during the imaging session. Cognitive tests will be conducted before and after the session. Participants will earn $20/hour. Expected visit duration is 5 hours.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Healthy men and women aged 18-55, right-handed, with no contraindications for MRI.

505-699-1561    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 20-072

Cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for reduction of negative affect and treatment of alcohol use disorder

Jon Houck, PhD, Addiction Research

Purpose of Study: This study is examining whether a type of non-invasive brain stimulation called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help people who are in treatment for alcohol use to improve their mood and drink less.

Protocol Summary: Participants complete surveys and two brain scans, and will be randomized to either active rTMS or placebo rTMS treatment groups. They will attend 10 daily brief (<2 minutes) treatment sessions and complete additional surveys one month after the rTMS treatment ends. The study takes about 16-17 hours over 8 weeks and participants will be compensated up to $520 for their time.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Adults between the ages of 22-65 who are interested in cutting down or quitting drinking and are currently receiving or willing to receive treatment.

(505) 226-2643    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 14918

Cognitive and Psychiatric Functioning in Aging

Sephira Ryman, PhD, Aging

Purpose of Study: The aim of this study is to understand changes in thinking and emotional functioning in healthy older adults and individuals with neurodegenerative conditions. This research ultimately aims to facilitate earlier detection and improve treatments for neurodegenerative conditions.

Protocol Summary: Participants may be asked to do any of the following activities: complete a confidential interview and answer questionnaires regarding their mood and feelings, complete pen and paper cognitive tests (e.g. memory tests), complete tests of balance and eye movements, genetic testing, blood draw, urine drug screening, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and/or breathalyzer. They may have a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan of their brain. Participants may be asked to return for annual research visits in which they would repeat similar assessments. Participants will earn $20.00 per hour for their participation.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Adults between the ages of 50-89. We will be recruiting healthy individuals with no cognitive concerns as well as individuals with a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia or have subjective cognitive complaints or concerns.

505-803-5499    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 20-247

DevMind Study: Mapping Brain Development In Childhood

Julia Stephen, PhD, Neurodevelopment

Purpose of Study: This research study is designed to understand how the healthy brain matures and how hormones influence development.

Protocol Summary: Child will complete 2 visits per year for 5 years. The study uses non-invasive and harmless techniques, MEG (Magnetoencephalography), fMRI/MRI (functional magnetic resonance Imaging), saliva hormone collection and behavioral measures. Participants will be compensated for their time.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Children between the ages of 6-8 and 11-13 years old, who have never been diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological disorder, and are medically healthy. Parent(s) must be able to give valid informed consent and the child must be able and willing to provide assent to the study procedures

505-227-3199    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 521-19

LCC Study: Health effects of little cigar and cigarillo use

Jon Houck, PhD, Addiction Research

Purpose of Study: This research is looking to evaluate the effects of little cigars, cigarillos, and blunts compared to healthy non-smokers.

Protocol Summary: Study is researching the effects of smoking little cigars, cigarillos, and blunts in contrast to never smoking tobacco. Involves one single visit at the Mind Research Network that will last roughly 5 hours including questionnaires and one MRI brain scan. You will be compensated for your time at the rate of $20 an hour up to a maximum of $100.00.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Looking for people ages 21-65 who smoke little cigars, cigarillos, or blunts.

505-226-4533    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: Pro00049354

Multi-Modal Imaging of Traumatic Brain Injury and Medical Cannabis

Andy Mayer, PhD, Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Purpose of Study: The aim of this research is to study the effects of therapeutics, including medical cannabis, on traumatic brain injury or concussion. We will be comparing people with traumatic brain injury who are currently using therapeutics to people with traumatic brain injury who are not using therapeutics and healthy controls.

Protocol Summary: Participants will undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan(approximately 1.5 hours), clinical examinations (approx. 1.5 hours), and neuropsychological examinations (approx 2 hrs). Additionally a drug screen will be administered. Multiple visits possible. Compensation available for participation.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Males and females between the ages of 18-85 with history of traumatic brain injury/concussion.

505-272-0769    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 19-655

Noninvasive modulation of motivational brain regions in healthy volunteers

Jeremy Hogeveen, PhD, Other Neuroimaging Research

Purpose of Study: The purpose of the proposed research is to characterize and stimulate the brain regions underlying motivated decision making.

Protocol Summary: Over two sessions, participants will undergo surveys and neuropsychological testing (~3 hrs), two separate 1.5 hr MRI scans, and one session of noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Participants will receive 30$ merchandise cards for each hour of participation for an average total of $120 – $150.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Study inclusion criteria stipulate the participants will: have no history of major psychiatric disturbance or traumatic brain injury, be either native or highly competent English speakers, have 12 or more years of education, have no contraindications to Magnetic Resonance Imaging have no history of substance abuse (excluding moderate alcohol or marijuana usage), will not be pregnant or currently trying to get pregnant, and will be adults between the ages of 18-55.

505-925-4043    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 20-623

Optimizing Targeted Interventions for Aphasia

Jessica Richardson, PhD, Other Neuroimaging Research

Purpose of Study: The aim of this research is to determine whether non-invasive brain stimulation paired with speech-language therapy results in better outcomes than speech-language therapy alone.

Protocol Summary: Participants with stroke-induced aphasia will undergo the following assessments: EEG, MRI, and neuropsychological testing at three timepoints – pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and 3-months post-treatment. Participants will receive the following treatment: 15 consecutive weekday sessions of active or sham noninvasive brain stimulation combined with evidence-based speech-language therapy. Participants may earn $40 for each testing session and $15 for each therapy session in the form of gift merchandise cards.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Individuals aged 25-85, who have suffered a stroke and have communication difficulties as a result.

505-433-7766    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 16-091

Reward-Guided Decision Making in Healthy Participants and Brain-Injured Patients

Jeremy Hogeveen, PhD, Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Purpose of Study: The purpose of the proposed research is to characterize the brain mechanisms underlying maladaptive reward processing in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (msTBI), with a focus on psychiatric symptoms in patients.

Protocol Summary: Participants will undergo surveys and neuropsychological testing (~3 hrs) followed by a 1.5 hr MRI session (brain scan) in which participants will perform cognitive tasks. Participants will receive $30 merchandise cards for each hour of participation for an average total of $120 – $150.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Half of the participants will be patients with a msTBI (≤3 months up to 15 years) resulting from a concussive event. For Healthy Control (HC) participants, study inclusion criteria stipulate the participants will: have no history of major psychiatric disturbance, be either native or highly competent English speakers, have 12 or more years of education, have no contraindications to Magnetic Resonance Imaging have no history of substance abuse (excluding moderate alcohol or marijuana usage), and will not be pregnant or currently trying to get pregnant.

505-925-4043    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 19-053

The Clear Study: Using a Computational Model to Examine the Effects of Early Life Stress on Neural Oscillations

Julia Stephen , PhD, Neurodevelopment Research

Purpose of Study: To better understand child brain development.

Protocol Summary: Child will complete memory and attention tests as well as an MEG and MRI scan. A parent will complete questionnaires about the child. Participants will be compensated $50.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Children between the ages of 12-16 years old, who have never been diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological disorder, and are medically healthy.

505-227-3199    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 17-521

The CONNECT Study

Davin Quinn, MD, Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Purpose of Study: The aim of this research is to develop safe, effective treatments for complex mTBI that improve cognitive functioning.

Protocol Summary: Participants will complete assessments, undergo neuropsychological testing, and magnetic resonance imaging at the Mind Research Network (~5 hours). Repeat testing will occur 30 days after the first visit (~3 hours). The treatment involved in this study is a combination of brain stimulation and cognitive training (16 sessions). Treatment will take place at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Hospital (~1 hour each session). Participants in this study will be paid $20 per hour of participation in gift cards.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Male and female veterans with complex mTBI experiencing cognitive symptoms between the ages of 18-59 with no MRI contraindications (presence of a potentially dangerous non-removable metallic device).

505-265-1711 ext. 4935     Study #: 21-026

The Impact of Diffuse Mild Brain Injury on Clinical Outcomes in Children

Andy Mayer, PhD, Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Purpose of Study: The aim of this research is to seek neuroimaging evidence of subtle physical or biochemical injury in subjects with TBI relative to healthy control subjects and, if detected, examine whether these injuries resolve.

Protocol Summary: Participants will undergo neuropsychological testing, neurosensory testing, magnetic resonance imaging (~4-5 hours). Repeat testing will occur 4 months and 12 months post injury (~3 hours). Participants in this study will be paid $20 per hour of participation.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Males and females between the ages of 8-18 with no MRI contraindications (presence of a potentially dangerous non-removable metallic device).

505-272-0769    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 07-272

Theta Study

Julia Stephen, PhD, Neurodevelopment

Purpose of Study: This research is being done to evaluate changes in brain function in typically developing children 6-8 years of age in relation to children 6-8 years of age with prenatal alcohol exposure.

Protocol Summary: During this study, your child will see a pediatrician for a brief physical and see a developmental psychologist to perform some paper and pencil/computer tests. Pictures of your child’s brain and brain activity will be measured using non-invasive and harmless devices called MEG (Magnetoencephalography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). All participants will be given a gift card of $50 or $25 (if incomplete) per visit for participating in the study.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Children between the ages of 6-8 years old, who have never been diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological disorder, and are medically healthy. Parent(s) must be able to give valid informed consent and the child must be able and willing to provide assent to the study procedures.

505-272-9297    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 20-015

Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Boost the Efficacy of Motivational Interviewing

Jon M. Houck, PhD, Addiction Research

Purpose of Study: This study is examining how counseling and brain stimulation might affect brain activity and alcohol use in people who are thinking about cutting back on their alcohol use.

Protocol Summary: After screening, participants complete a set of online-only questionnaires. Those who qualify and are interested will return for one in-person visit of additional surveys, counseling, brain stimulation, and neuroimaging (MEG and MRI). Surveys will be repeated one month after the in-person visit. Total study time is about 5.5 hours including online and in-person visits, and participants will earn up to $135.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: We are looking for volunteers 18-60 years old who live in the Albuquerque area and are thinking about reducing their alcohol use. Please complete the online screening form at https://redcap.mrn.org/redcap/surveys/index.php?s=MNJ7DHD94W

505-226-1847    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 16-719

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Social Skill Enhancement in Adult Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Claudia Tesche, PhD, Other Neuroimaging Research

Purpose of Study: This research is being completed with adults and older adolescents with autism spectrum disorder to investigate brain activity after receiving social skill and social cognition trainings paired with transcranial direct current stimulation, which is a safe and noninvasive brain stimulation delivered by electrodes placed over the scalp.

Protocol Summary: Participants will be screened through Zoom or in person to make sure they meet the basic eligibility criteria to participate in the study. After screening, sessions one and two will be scheduled to take place at the Mind Research Network. At these sessions, participants will complete computer-based social skills and social cognition trainings while receiving transcranial direct current stimulation, followed by neuroimaging to gather pictures of brain activity using safe devices such as MEG (Magnetoencephalography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Participants will be compensated at a rate of $25/hour for partial or full completion. Participants who live more than 100 miles from the MIND Research Network may also receive $50 for travel and overnight expenses for each of the two sessions. The range of total payments is $200 - $300 for each participant.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: Participants between the ages of 15-30 years old, who are right-handed, have average or above cognitive functioning, no history of major psychiatric or neurological disorders, and no surgically implanted metal. To determine if you are eligible to participate, please complete our online screening form at: https://survey.nmsu.edu/surveys/?s=D4K4PLERMNHPKLDE. A study staff member will contact you to discuss your eligibility.

(505) 750-0845    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)     Study #: 21814

Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) Study

Gary Rosenberg, MD, Memory and Aging Research

Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study is to identify and validate biomarkers for the small vessel diseases of the brain that produce vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) among diverse participants.

Protocol Summary: Participants will complete clinical evaluations, cognitive testing, MRI scanning, and blood collection as part of this research. Procedures will occur annually for up to 4 years.

Basic Eligibility Criteria: We are seeking individuals that are Hispanic, Latino and/or Black. Individuals must be 60-90 years of age.

505-272-3315    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    Study #: 22-017