FAQ’s
What is this study about?
This study investigates how the brain and immune system function during a first interaction with someone. We want to know the psychological and biological processes behind friendship formation.
What is research?
Research is a systematic discovery. Researchers identify questions about how the world works, learn about the topic, come up with hypotheses, design studies, collect and analyze data, and then share their findings with the scientific and broader communities.
What kind of research does the Social Neuroscience and Health lab do?
We do social psychoneuroimmunology research. Let’s break that down:
Social – our work focuses on social interactions, rather than individual characteristics
Psycho – this part is short for psychology, or the study of the mind and behavior
Neuro – this part is short for neuroscience, which is the study of the brain as a biological organ
Immunology – this is the study of the immune system
So overall, we study the interaction between the brain, body, and behavior in social situations.
Am i eligible for this study?
You may be eligible for this study if you are between 18 and 30 years old, relatively healthy, right-handed, and don’t have any non-removeable metal in your body. Take the online prescreening at the button below, then a researcher will call you to assess full eligibility.
Do i get anything from participating in this study?
You can earn up to $125 for participation.
This biggest risk associated with this study is mild discomfort during placement of the blood collection tube in your arm. The sensors placed on your neck and torso are non-intrusive and cause no physical pain.
Are there any risks to participating?
Are mri scans dangerous?
MRI scans are not dangerous and cause no side effects for those who have been approved to enter the scanner. We screen out anyone who might have an MRI safety risk, and our MRI technicians double-check participants’ safety before they enter the scanner.
What if i want to stop participating?
You may withdraw at any point for any reason without penalty.
What are my rights as a research participant?
All research studies that use human participants must receive approval from an Institutional Review Board of experts who review the study to make sure it is safe, ethical, and scientifically sound. This is to protect your rights and welfare. Researchers are required by law to explain the benefits and risks of participation in a way that is easy to understand. This is called informed consent, which participants will go through in the Zoom session. Participants can also withdraw at any time for any reason without penalty. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, you can contact the IRB at (919) 966-3113 or IRB_subjects@unc.edu.
Can i receive free medical treatment or health advice?
The blood samples, sensor recordings, and brain scans are not the same as tests you would receive as part of health care treatment. The data will not be reviewed by a doctor, and it will not appear on your medical record. Occasionally the technologist or researcher may notice something abnormal in your data, in which case it will be reviewed by a qualified doctor to determine if there is anything of clinical importance. If something is found to be important then you and/or your primary care provider will be notified. Any further follow up and costs associated with the incidental finding will be your responsibility.
What are the covid-19 precautions for this study?
Onsite sessions will take place in UNC medical buildings, in which all staff must be fully vaccinated and masks are mandatory for all. Additionally, everyone who enters these buildings is screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entry. Participants in this study must be fully vaccinated, complete the pre-session COVID screening, and wear a mask for the duration of their visit.
What data will you collect?
We will collect data about your mood, demographics, health, emotions, relationships, history of stressful or traumatic experiences, sensitivity to bodily changes, brain biology, physiology, and immune system function.
Who will have access to my data?
Your identifiable data (e.g., name, email, phone number, MRN) will only be viewed by research personnel. Privacy and confidentiality will be maintained through the de-identification of all data (this means that we will remove any information that could identify data as belonging to you). Anonymized data may be stored in an open-access data repository where it will be stored indefinitely, and anyone (including individuals outside of our research team) will be able to download it for future research.
how will you use my data?
Data from all our participants will be analyzed to answer a variety of questions related to how the brain and body process first impressions. Anything we find may be published in academic journals and posted online. Any data we publish will not be linked to your personal information.
Who is sponsoring this study?
This research is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The researchers do not have a direct financial interest with the sponsor or in the final results of the study.