Research studies

Neural basis of sensory sensitivity in autism We are recruiting volunteers for a brain imaging study looking at the differences in sensory sensitivity between autistic and non-autistic people. This will involve completing a series of perception tasks in the MEG scanner in CUBRIC, and filling out some questionnaires (which can be done onsite or in your own time prior to the visit). The whole study should take around 2 hours, with around 1 hour in the MEG scanner, around 30 minutes for preparation, and up to 20 minutes for questionnaires. If you wish to participate, please follow the link to complete the screening form. For more information on the study, please contact busselljb@cardiff.ac.uk. Start Date: May 1, 2025    2    Age Eligibility: 18+ (years)    Location: CUBRIC    20     Additional Info    Visit Website  

Investigating inflammation and the brain We are seeking healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 to participate in a study investigating the effects of inflammation on the brain. The study involves researchers from Cardiff University. All testing will take place at the Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). This study will involve coming to CUBRIC (Maindy Road, Cardiff) for a screening visit followed by two full days of testing. Each testing session will involve receiving an injection of either Lipopolysaccharide (to activate your immune system) or water (placebo), followed by regular blood tests, an MRI brain scan and a computer task. Start Date: Nov. 4, 2024    2 x 8 hour days    Age Eligibility: 18-55 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    200 payment     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Social media and teens' cognition We're looking for teen participants, aged 13-17, to take part in a study investigating how social media influences the way adolescents think and behave. This study involves coming to our lab at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre and doing computer-based tasks as well as answering a couple of questionnaires. Overall, the experiment lasts up to 1h, and you will receive £10 for your participation. Who can take part? Teenagers aged 13-17 Using social media platforms (such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter…) Without diagnosed developmental conditions, mental health conditions, special educational needs, or neurological disorders If you or someone you know might be interested in taking part, get in touch at teens-and-screens@cardiff.ac.uk Start Date: June 16, 2025    1h    Age Eligibility: 13-17 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    10     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Curious Minds Study We’re inviting children and adolescents ages 10-14 to take part in an exciting research study, exploring how curiosity influences learning across development. Participants will visit Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) and take part in fun, computer-based tasks involving answering trivia questions. As well as think aloud components with recorded audio contributing to research insights. The full session lasts up to 2.5 hours (including breaks), and each participant will receive a £20 voucher as a thank you. If you or someone you know might be interested, please get in touch at curiousbrain@cardiff.ac.uk. Start Date: June 5, 2025    2.5 to 3 Hours    Age Eligibility: 10-14 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    20 Voucher     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Investigating the role of human brainstem noradrenergic centres in sedation, analgesia and haemodynamic control. You will be asked to visit the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre on two occasions. First Visit: During the first visit, we will screen you for any contraindications to MRI and conduct a general health assessment. We will provide detailed information about the study tasks, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions. This visit will last up to 1 hour. Second Visit: During the second visit, you will receive a drug called Dexmedetomidine. First, your brain will be scanned using MRI. Then, while you remain on the MRI bed, you will be administered Dexmedetomidine. The dose will be low and is expected to make you only moderately sleepy. After this, your brain will be scanned again while you are receiving the drug. During the scans, we will measure your brain activity as you perform a series of tasks. These include watching a screen, completing a hand-grip task, and experiencing mild stimulation to your skin (which may be moderately painful). This second visit will last up to 5 hours. You will receive £120 plus travel expenses for your participation. Start Date: June 11, 2025    5 hours    Age Eligibility: 18-50 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    120     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Moral Decisions of Self-driving Cars We are looking for participants to take part in our online experiment, in which they will be presented with multiple hypothetical scenarios concerning autonomous driving and indicate their preferences in the decisions that self-driving cars make. The experiment takes rouhgly 30 minutes. Unfortunately we don't have any funds to pay you but we greatly appreciate your contribution to the study! Please register your interest if you wish to do so and we will send you a link to the online study foryou to complete. Start Date: May 2, 2025    30 minutes    Age Eligibility: 18+ (years)    Location: ONLINE    0     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Cerebrovascular contributions to Menopause-related brain fog Why do some women get brain fog during menopause and some don't? What is happening to the brain's physiology during this hormonal transition? To investigate this, this study will involve multiple testing sessions over a 6 month period; once a week for the first month, then once a month after that (9 sessions total). Each session will involve a 45-minute MRI scan, questionnaires (e.g., about your level of brain fog) and (monthly) cognitive tests. We're looking for women going through perimenopause with and without recent experience of brain fog. Participants will be reimbursed £20 a session for their time via bank transfer, up to a total of £180 for all sessions. Start Date: Sept. 1, 2025    ~2 hours per session    Age Eligibility: No age restrictions (years)    Location: CUBRIC    20 per session     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Cybersecurity and Psychology experiment/game. Are you passionate about cybersecurity and decision-making or just want to help a guy out? I'm seeking participants for my research exploring how we process information when making critical security classifications. https://rerunexp1-6ca355a5c0f2.herokuapp.com/ I'm a PhD researcher investigating how information gathering impacts decision-making, cognitive load, and trust during cybersecurity data classification tasks and I need interested participants to complete my 30-minute online experiment designed around a cybersecurity scenario. All you need to take part is a computer with a mouse! In exchange you will contribute to vital research understanding human factors in security and gain access to any research papers published from this study. Any questions please contact otterm@Cardiff.ac.uk. https://rerunexp1-6ca355a5c0f2.herokuapp.com/ Start Date: June 3, 2025    30 Minutes    Age Eligibility: 18+ (years)    Location: ONLINE    0     Additional Info    Visit Website  

Non-invasive histology of the brain microstructure The main aim of the project is to develop, implement and validate quantitative models and estimation techniques to characterise the brain tissue microstructure in vivo by using MRI data from different modalities. Start Date: June 12, 2024    45    Age Eligibility: 18-60 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    0     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Spend a night in the sleep lab We are currently looking for volunteers aged 18-35 to take part in a sleep study investigating the relationship between sleep, memory, and emotion. Who are we looking for? Healthy individuals aged 18-35; Normal or corrected to normal vision; No history of mental health or neurological problems; No disordered sleeping patterns. What does this involve? Wear a smart watch and complete a sleep diary for 12 days; 1 night spent at the lab (CUBRIC) (after wearing the watch for 3 days); 1 follow-up session after a week (less than an hour). You will receive up to £50 compensation for your help. Start Date: April 28, 2025    2 weeks    Age Eligibility: 18-35 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    50     Additional Info    Visit Website  

MICROCODE: Linking microstructure to conduction delays We are looking for healthy volunteers that are of/around the ages of 36 male; 51 male; 47 female to participate in an MRI and MEG study in CUBRIC which aims to characterise the relationship between MRI-measured microstructural properties (myelination and axonal diameter) and conduction delays as measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG). The study sessions involve: 1) MEG Scan - 1 hour and 30min (including set up) 2)Two questionnaires (5/10min) 3) 3T MRI - 1 hour and 30 min 4)7T MRI 45 min During the MRI scans, participants will be able to watch a film of their choice, while during the MEG scan there will two tasks – resting state (where participants will not be required to do anything) and a task, involving interhemispheric engagement (instructions for which will be given in due time). Participants will receive a £100 payment via bank transfer upon completing all study sessions. However, if one or more study sessions are not completed (regardless of the reason), participants will be compensated based on the specific tasks they have completed. Start Date: May 12, 2025    ~4.5 hours (including breaks)    Age Eligibility: 55 or under (years)    Location: CUBRIC    100     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Sleep for research ! Sleep study investigating the relationship between sleep, memory, and mood.​ The study stretches over a 2 week period with at home questionnaires and tasks and requires one night in the Sleep Lab after 1 week. Start Date: March 1, 2024    2 weeks    Age Eligibility: 18-35 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    50     Additional Info    Visit Website  

Cardiac diffusion weighted imaging The MR scan will be performed in a head-first position like the brain scan, the difference however is that the heart will be in the isocentre instead of the brain. Cardiac MR scans are usually cardiac triggered, so we need to attach 4 ECG electrodes (stickers) on the participant's chest which will be then connected to our MR conditional ECG unit. The remaining part is very similar to the brain scan and all the limitations/restrictions that apply to brain MRI such as not having any metallic implant, metallic tattoo, etc. apply to the cardiac MR as well. Start Date: April 10, 2024    120 minutes    Age Eligibility: 18-50 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    20     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Post-stroke emotions and identity Are you a stroke survivor who feels they have had emotion changes after their stroke? 🔞 Are you 18 or over? 🇬🇧 Do you live in the UK? 🧠 Have you experienced changes to your emotions? For example, do your emotions feel sudden, unexpected, or difficult to control? 💬 Are you happy to share your experiences in an online interview? Start Date: Dec. 1, 2024    1.5hrs    Age Eligibility: 18+ (years)    Location: ONLINE    £25     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Furthering our understanding of Alzheimer and Parkinson's Disease DEPICT (Detailed Exploration of Pathology in Cortical Tissue aims to use Brain imaging (MRI scans) to give us a better understanding of the reasons that some people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease develop symptoms quicky while in others' symptom change is slower. Understanding these differences is potentially key to the development of more targeted treatments for individual patients. We are looking for healthy adult participants (people without Alzheimer’s or Parkinsons Disease) to act as a control group for the study. You will need to be able to undertake MRI scans of your brain over 2 visits to CUBRIC, 12 months apart. A safety screening check will take place to assess if you are safe to undergo an MRI scan. There will also be some cognitive questionnaires. Start Date: May 1, 2025    4 hours    Age Eligibility: 60+ (years)    Location: CUBRIC    75 per visit     Additional Info    Register Interest  

The effect of sleep on creative integration We’re looking for participants aged 18-35 to take part in a psychology study investigating the sleep related benefit to creative thought. Study will involve a computer-based learning task followed by either a sleep or wake period returning to the lab for a test session. Participants will be required for 2 x ~ 1-hour sessions, separated by 12 hours and will be paid £14 for their time upon completion of the study. Please email Lordj1@cardiff.ac.uk for more details, referencing ‘RI study’ Start Date: April 10, 2024    2    Age Eligibility: 18-35 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    14     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Sleep for research! We are currently looking for volunteers aged 18-35 to take part in a sleep study investigating the relationship between sleep, memory, and mood. The study involves: 1) completing some short questionnaires about mood every day for 2 weeks. 2) Reporting on the happiest memories you have. 3) Attending our sleep lab for one night 4) A follow-up task at the end of the two weeks (this may be done either online or at CUBRIC, Cardiff University. You will receive up to £50 compensation for your help. If you are interested, please contact us at tpms-cubric@cardiff.ac.uk for more Information and to check your eligibility. Start Date: Dec. 12, 2024    2 weeks    Age Eligibility: 18-35 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    50     Additional Info    Visit Website  

Investigating inflammation, brain barriers and mood We are seeking healthy volunteers aged 18 to 60 to participate in a study investigating the effects of inflammation on brain barriers and mood using MRI and MEG scans. The study involves researchers from Cardiff University. All testing will take place at the Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). This study will involve coming to CUBRIC (Maindy Road, Cardiff) for a screening visit followed by two full days of testing. Each testing session will involve receiving an injection of either Interferon (to activate your immune system) or water (placebo), followed by regular blood tests, a MEG scan, an MRI brain scan and a computer task. There will also be a breath-hold or CO2 challenge in the MRI, to manipulate the ratio of oxygen to CO2. Start Date: May 23, 2025    2hr screening, 2x 7hr days    Age Eligibility: 18-60 (years)    Location: CUBRIC    200     Additional Info    Register Interest  

Volunteers Needed for Heart Research Study! ❤️ Who are we looking for? Endurance-experienced athletes aged 18 or over Exercise for over 6 hours/week for 3 years or more No history of cardiovascular disease Who are we? This study is organised by the CMR clinical Research Group at the University of Leeds and Cardiff University and funded by Wellcome Trust. What does it involve? Two visits to CUBRIC for an MRI heart scan at each time Volunteers will be compensated with £40 reimbursement Unique opportunity to view images of your heart following a scan Why get involved? A new heart MRI method to investigate the heart muscle and compare to normal and diseased heart. How do I get involved? If interested, please feel free to contact the research team for details. Email: m.lwin@leeds.ac.uk Start Date: June 20, 2025    2 hours    Age Eligibility: 18+ (years)    Location: CUBRIC    £40     Additional Info    Register Interest