Title of Project: The impact of mental effort on psychophysiological variables.

Name of Researcher:
Miss Jenna Roberts
Henry Cotton Campus
LJMU
J.Roberts@ljmu.ac.uk

It is important that you understand what the research involves. Please take time to read the following information. Please ask if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information.

1. Do I have to take part?

It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. The information provided on this sheet should help you to make an informed decision but feel free to ask any questions. If you decide to take part you will be asked to sign a consent form. You will still be free to withdraw from the experiment at any time and without giving a reason. A decision to withdraw will not affect your rights/any future treatment/service you receive.

2. What will happen to me if I take part?

If you decide to take part, we will arrange a suitable time with you for the experiment to take place. This study will involve completing a word task on a computer whilst we record a number of physiological measures. You will also need to complete several questionnaires measuring things like personality and mood state.

To reimburse you for out of pocket expenses you will receive £10 worth of vouchers for taking part. You will also have the chance to win an extra £10 in vouchers by reaching a certain standard on the word task.

Experimental Procedure

Physiological Measures

In order to measure brain activity, an electroencephalograph (EEG) will be conducted. 32 electrodes are placed on the scalp to measure electrical activity in the brain. The procedure involves applying small amounts of conductive gel to the head but is painless and harmless. The gel is easily removed with warm water. Facilities for this will be provided if required.
We will measure the activity of the heart by checking blood pressure at specific intervals with a standard blood pressure cuff and conducting an electrocardiograph (ECG). The ECG involves the placement of 3 electrodes on the skin (one on each shoulder and one on your hip). The above techniques are considered to be very safe and should not cause any pain or discomfort.
The movement of certain facial muscles is explored using a procedure called facial electromyography (fEMG). 2 electrodes will be placed above your left eyebrow. Again, this is safe and painless.

The Word Task and Questionnaires

We will ask you to complete a fairly challenging word task while the above physiological measures are recorded. You will be given a 4 x 4 grid of letters and will be asked to find as many words as possible from this grid. Full instructions will be provided and a practice session will take place so that you can familiarise yourself with the set up. You will be required to attempt several of these grids. It is anticipated that the total time required for the experiment will be a maximum of 1.5 hours.

3. Are there any risks / benefits involved?

We are recording a significant amount of physiological data which will require the attachment of a number of wires and electrodes. This will restrict your movement slightly. However, all the procedures are considered safe. They are non-invasive and are widely applied in health and research settings.

4. Where will the experiment take place?

All participants will be tested individually in a lab at the Henry Cotton Campus.

5. Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?

Your data will be recorded and stored anonymously. We will differentiate between data sets by participant number only. You will be tested individually in a lab at LJMU.

If you would like to take part or have any questions, click on contact (top right) and get in touch. Please note, unfortunately I cannot accept everyone on to the study. Participation is dependant on you meeting certain selection criteria.