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Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Study:  Effects of Methylphenidate on EFs

Study:  Balance Study

Study:  Sex Differences

Study:  ADHD Study

Study:  Music Study

Study:  Planning in Preschoolers

Directions to the Lab

 

Effects of Methylphenidate on Executive Functions

We are interested in looking at what happens to cognitive functions when university students without ADHD take a low-dose of the stimulant, Methylphenidate (MPH; usually known commercially as Ritalin or Concerta). For one visit to the lab, we will give you a very low dose of MPH. For another visit to the lab, we’ll give Vitamin C as a placebo. This is a double-blind study so neither you nor anyone in the lab will know when you receive Vitamin C and when you receive MPH.

We are looking for participants between the ages of 20 and 35, who do not have any medical conditions that would prevent them from taking MPH or participating in the study.

If you or anyone you know MIGHT be interested in participating, or would like more information: Please fill out the online registration form or contact us at:

Phone: (604) 822- 7404

Email: devcogneuro AT gmail.com (replace the AT with @ to email)

Online: Online Registration

Contacting us in no way obligates you to participate in the study. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and individuals may choose to withdraw from the study at any time.

Download the pdf of the poster here.

This project is funded by NERSC and directed by Prof. Adele Diamond, Dept. of Psychiatry, UBC.

 

 

Balance Study

gender study

We are recruiting 8-12 year-olds in the greater Vancouver Area, who could use some improvement of their executive functions (things like selective attention, working memory, and creative problem solving) and balance, for a study that tests whether training balance or listening to music you really enjoy can improve executive functions.

  • The training is FREE
  • The training is ONLY 15-min a day, a few days a week, at the child’s home
  • Those in the Balance-Training Group will get a balance beam, wobble board, hopscotch etc. to keep for free
  • Those in the Watching-Music-Videos Group will get several music videos of their choice to keep for free
  • Feedback on each child’s EFs and balance will be provided before & after to the child’s parent

  • If you or anyone you know MIGHT be interested in participating, or would like more information: Please fill out the online registration form or contact us at:

    Phone: (604) 649- 0702

    Email: pspaz AT student.ubc.ca (replace the AT with @ to email)

    Online: Online Registration

    Contacting us in no way obligates you to participate in the study. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and individuals may choose to withdraw from the study at any time.

    Download the pdf of the poster here.

    This project is funded by NERSC and directed by Prof. Adele Diamond, Dept. of Psychiatry, UBC.

     

    Sex Differences in Cognition

    gender study

    You are invited to take part in a research study examining whether a low dose of methylphenidate (MPH) [Ritalin®] might affect reasoning, attention, and memory differently in men and women.

    What would you need to do?
    The study involves a short info session and 2 testing sessions, each about 1 hour. Before a testing session, you will be asked to take a low dose of MPH or a placebo (Vitamin C). You will then be asked to play computer games that require reasoning, attention, and memory. All sessions will take place on at UBC: 2255 Wesbrook Mall (Detwiller Pavilion, Room G881). You will be compensated for your time.

    Who is eligible to participate?
    Healthy men and women between 20 and 35 years of age, who are not taking any medications that might affect thinking, mental clarity, or hormone levels (e.g., oral contraceptives), are not pregnant or nursing, and do not have a personal or family history of contraindications against taking Ritalin® (e.g., a heart condition).

    If you might be interested in participating, or would like more information: Please fill out the online registration form or contact us at:

    Phone: 604-822-7404

    Email: genderstudy AT devcogneuro.com (replace the AT with @ to email)

    Online: Online Registration

    Contacting us in no way obligates you to participate in the study. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and individuals may choose to withdraw from the study at any time.

    Download the pdf of the poster here.

    We look forward to hearing from you!

     

    ADHD Study

    ADHD study

    We are conducting a study that is looking at: thinking, attention, problem-solving, mental flexibility, and working memory (abilities that comprise the ‘executive functions’) when youths are on their normal dose of MPH and when they are on half that.

    When a doctor prescribes exactly the right dose for controlling behavioural hyperactivity and impulsivity, that dose might be too high for aiding executive functions.

    Participating involves coming to UBC twice, 2 weeks apart, to play some computer games that assess the different executive functions. There are also a couple of paper and pencil measures. And, before one visit, you would take half your normal dose for 3 days.

    We invite you to contact us for more information. Please fill out the online registration form or contact us at:

    Phone: 604-822-7404

    Email: devcogneuro AT gmail.com (replace the AT with @ to email)

    Online: Online Registration

    Contacting us in no way commits you to participate. And, if you decide to participate, you are completely free to stop participating at any time

    Download the pdf of the poster here.

    We look forward to hearing from you!

     

    Music Study

    ADHD study

    We are looking for adults 45 years and older who are experiencing some forgetfulness and feeling a bit down.

    We want to see if listening to songs (alone or with a friend or relative) or listening to poems/stories/plays/or scriptures might improve your memory, attention, mental agility, mood, and/or your quality of life.

    All music or writings will be ones you choose and enjoy! Participation is FREE. No traveling required – we can come to you! All participants will receive a FREE audio player to keep after the study.

    If you participate, you’ll be randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups for 10 weeks:
    1. Listening to Music you choose on an audio player at your leisure for 1½ hours each week.
    2. Listening to Poetry/Stories you choose on an audio device at your leisure for 1½ hours each week.
    3. 90 minutes of music listening sessions each week with a friend or relative.
    4. 90 minutes each week with a friend or relative without listening to music.
    5. Business-as-usual: You go about your usual daily activities.

    If you or anyone you know might be interested in participating: Please fill out the online registration form or contact us at:

    Phone: 604-822-7404

    Email: jrchan01@ AT student.ubc.ca (replace the AT with @ to email)

    Online: Online Registration

    Contacting us in no way commits you to participate. And, if you decide to participate, you are completely free to stop participating at any time

    Download the pdf of the poster here.

    We look forward to hearing from you!

     

    Planning in Preschoolers

    Your 4-5 year old child is invited to volunteer for a research study. The goal of this research is to see how memory and planning develop in normally developing children. We think that between the ages of 4-5 years children become much better at being able to come up with useful strategies.

    What would you need to do?

    We will assess memory and planning using a game much like the children’s game “Concentration.” The goal is for your child to find each of the matching pairs of cards. Your child will choose one card to turn over and then a second card to turn over that hopefully will match what is on the first card. First we start with only 4 cards and then progress up to 12 cards. It’s fun. Children really enjoy it. Before the game we will explain the rules and go over them with your child, giving your child time to practice. We don’t rush anyone and everything is done in the spirit of having a good time. The game takes only about 10-15 minutes.

    We like to record the session in order to analyze the results in detail – particular the strategy that each child seems to be using. The videos are used solely for research purposes. Absolutely no one will see the videos we take except our research staff. Your child can still participate even if you decline to have his or her session videotaped. The session will take place at UBC: 2255 Wesbrook Mall (Detwiller Pavilion, Room G881).

    Who is eligible to participate?

    Healthy children between the age of 4-5 years.

    If you or anyone you know might be interested in participating: Please contact us at: 604-822-7404 or email rabia•mir@ubc•ca

    Contacting us in no way commits you to participate. And, if you decide to participate, you are completely free to stop participating at any time

    We look forward to hearing from you!

     

     

    Directions

    We are located on Wesbrook Mall -- next to the UBC Hospital in the basement of Detwiller Pavilion (2255 Wesbrook Mall).

    The easiest way to our lab is through the side entrance to Detwiller (pictured here to the right). The side entrance is on the right-hand side of the building (the one facing the hospital), it has asphalt and wood-rimmed steps leading directly down to us, and is marked with a sign reading "Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab" on the building. We are located through these doors and down the stairs. You'll recognize us by the bright colors in the hallway and there are signs to guide you to the lab!

    There is parking right next to our side entrance. Map: pdf version  

     

    This page last updated: 29 Feb 2024