Effects of experience on language processing - a new fMRI brain scan study

We are looking for deaf and hearing signers to take part in a new study. The aim of this study is to discover how the brain's language processing network is affected when a person learns their main language later in life, rather than from birth. To do this, we need to compare brain scans from deaf and hearing signers who learned to sign either from birth or later in life (aged 15 or older).

What's involved?

This study is split into two sessions, on separate days. In the first session, volunteers will do brief BSL, English and visual-spatial skills assessments on a computer or with pencil and paper. This session will take one hour. Based on the results from this session, volunteers may then be invited to the second session. In the second session, volunteers will have an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) brain scan. During the scan, volunteers will see pictures and BSL sentences on a screen. The scanner session lasts two hours, but volunteers will only be in the scanner for about 50 minutes. Both sessions take place in central London near Holborn, Russell Square and King's Cross tube stations.

Who are we looking for?

We need four different kinds of signers:

Deaf signers who learned British Sign Language (BSL) from birth from their Deaf parents or other close family.
Deaf signers who learned BSL later in life (aged 15 or older) and have hearing parents.
Hearing signers who learned BSL from birth from their Deaf parents or other close family (CODAs/ HMFDs).
Hearing signers who learned BSL later in life (aged 15 or older).

In all cases, we are looking for people who are good, confident signers. For Deaf volunteers, this means that you use BSL everyday as your preferred language. For hearing volunteers, this means that you sign with Deaf people (e.g., friends, family, clients, students or co-workers) on a daily or regular basis. Deaf and hearing signers of Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) or New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) may also be suitable for this study. All volunteers must be right-handed and aged 18 to 54.

Safety?

fMRI is safe for most people and there are no known after-effects of having an fMRI scan. However, because a strong magnet is used, people with metal in their bodies such as heart pacemakers, aneurism (brain) clips, cochlear (ear) implants or metal pins to fix broken bones cannot be scanned. All volunteers will be thoroughly checked to ensure that it is safe for them to be scanned.

Benefits?

Although this research will not benefit you directly, we hope that it will further our understanding of language and the brain - in particular, the impact of deaf children's early language experience on language processing in later life. Also, we will pay you £10/ hour for your time, pay your travel costs and, if you invited to take part in the scanning session, give you a picture of your brain to keep.

Deadline: 30th Sept 2009

For more information and to volunteer, please contact:
Dafydd Waters
Email: dafydd.waters@ucl.ac.uk
Telephone/ SMS: 07545 054 300
AIM/ iChat: dafydd1967