Running experimental sessions

Pre-experiment checklist. Each experiment being carried out in the lab should have a checklist for items that must be completed prior to participant arrival and a checklist for procedures that will be completed as part of the experiment itself. Typical items include making sure that all equipment is powered on, all necessary cables are properly connected, equipment is working properly, and all supplies for the experiment are prepared and ready to go (including electrodes, newly filled syringes for EEG gel, a freshly washed (and fully dry) EEG cap, and a clean pillow case. It is also a good idea to check that all necessary experimental triggers are working properly, as software updates that operate in the background can sometimes disrupt this process.
Meeting the participant. It is a good idea to meet the research participant on the main floor of Bellmont Hall or near one of the entrances. This makes sure that they will not get lost on their way to the lab. When you see someone who appears like they might be the participant, ask them if they are here for a research study and what their name is. If this is the person you are looking for, offer a smile, introduce yourself and welcome them to the study. Then, you can walk with the participant to the lab. During this time, it often helps to make minor small talk and learn a little bit about the participant. This goes a long way for making people feel comfortable when they participate in our research studies.
Obtaining informed consent. After the participant arrives in the lab, ask them to take a seat and then sit alongside them at one of the behavioral testing stations. Then, explain that you will be describing the research study to see if they would like to participate, and that this involves going through the informed consent document for the study in detail. Make sure that the participant has a copy of the IRB-approved consent form and that you also have a copy. That way, you can each refer to your own copies. Carefully describe all aspects of the study as listed on the informed consent form. You should make sure to talk slowly and in plain english, because chances are the participant is not familiar with the research techniques that we use. Stop to take breaks often, and ask the participant if they have any questions or concerns. After you are finished reviewing the document, tell the participant that you will give them some additional time to review the form. If the participant indicates that they would like to participate, both you and the participant need to sign the form. Then, offer the participant a blank copy for their records - if they refuse this copy, that is ok. See https://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/grant-writing-and-application-process/elements-of-a-successful-informed-consent-video for details on how to properly obtain informed consent in a research setting. The participant also needs to review the COVID addendum and sign this as well (see attachments at the bottom of the page).
Formal eligibility screening. After obtaining informed consent, you will need to formally review the eligibility criteria for the study with the participant. Typically, each study in our lab has an eligibility form. Write the subjects ID (not name!) and the date on the top of this form, then verbally review each criteria with the participant. Write down the participant's answer to each question. If you are not sure if the participant meets eligibility criteria, you can contact Dr. Hussain by text or phone call. If the participant does not meet the eligibility criteria, notify the participant and end the session. After completing eligibility screening, ask the participant if they need to use the bathroom and encourage them to go even if they are not sure. Our studies are long and this prevents the need for bathroom breaks later in the experiment when everything is already set-up.
TMS Safety screening. Most of our studies have the TMS safety screening questions incorporated into the eligibility form, but it is a good idea to re-screen the participant for TMS safety anyways. This can be done by verbally reviewing the questions listed on the TMS Safety Screening sheet on the lab wall with the participant. If you are not sure if the participant meets the TMS Safety Screening criteria, you can contact Dr. Hussain by text or phone call. If the participant does not meet the TMS Safety Screening criteria, notify the participant and end the session.
TMS familiarization. Many participants in our studies have never experienced TMS before. It is a good idea to demonstrate to them how it feels before setting up any EEG and EMG electrodes. Typically, I demonstrate TMS on my arm and then on my own head to show the participant how it works and sounds. Then, I ask the participant if they are ok with me trying it on their arm. If they agree, I deliver one or two pulses to their arm muscle. Then, I ask the participant if they are ok with me trying it on their head. If they agree, I deliver one or two pulses to their scalp. Afterwards, I ask participants if they are comfortable with the sensation and if they are ok with proceeding. If they hesitate or are not sure, you can remind them that they are not obligated to participate. If they state that it makes them uncomfortable, end the session.
Equipment set-up. Set up all equipment for your experiment. This usually involves applying EEG and EMG electrodes. This is a great time to chat with the participant and try to make them feel comfortable while still remaining professional. If we can make a participant comfortable during this time, they will have a much better experience and be more willing to tell us if something is bothering them. At the end of equipment set-up, insert the earplugs (if performing TMS). Earplugs must always be inserted by research personnel to ensure that they are properly placed.
Experimental procedures. These will obviously vary depending on your study. However, some general rules apply. First, you should regularly ask your research participant how they are feeling. If they indicate at any time that they are uncomfortable, take a short break and readjust their positioning, or give them a snack/water. If they are still uncomfortable, ask them if they still would like to proceed. Remember, participants should ALWAYS wear ear plugs during TMS and these should be placed by the researchers, not the participant themselves. Try to keep sound to a minimum during any experimental recordings (EEG/EMG), behavioral tasks, or TMS delivery.
Post-experiment hair washing. If you've run an EEG study, remove the cap from the participant's scalp. Be careful to not pull it off too quickly as sometimes the gel sticks the cap to their hair. Give the participant a towel and some shampoo and ask them to go to the bathroom to wash their hair. Before sending them to the bathroom, ask them how they are feeling to make sure they are ok to go by themselves. After the participant returns, place their towel in the soiled laundry bag along with the clean pillowcase. Be sure to keep this bag separate from the clean linens to avoid cross-contamination. Ask the participant once more how they are feeling. If they are not feeling well, contact the PI for more information on how to proceed.
Compensation. After all procedures are complete (including post-experiment hair washing), calculate the amount of time the participant was in the lab. Multiply this by the hourly compensation rate specified by your IRB-approved protocol, including any pro-rating. Then ask the participant to wait in the lab while you retrieve cash from the cashbox. In the cashbox log, write the date and the amount of cash you removed from the cashbox and the purpose of this removal. Make sure that the participant completes the Participant Compensation Form (see Compensation Procedures for more details). Once you return to the lab, hand the participant the cash and thank them for their participation.
Snacks, sleeping and bathroom breaks. Our experiments are often quite long, and participants get hungry, thirsty, and tired. They often have to use the bathroom too. We have cups on hand to provide water as participants desire. We also have some snacks in the lab. If either of these items are running low, let the PI know so she can get more. If a participant starts to fall asleep during an experiment, gently tap them on the shoulder until they wake up and remind them to try their best to stay awake. If a participant needs to use the bathroom but is hooked up to EEG/EMG electrodes, disconnect the headbox and show them where the restroom is. You should remind the participant to keep the headbox dry when using the bathroom.
Emergency procedures. If a participant begins to shake, convulse, seems confused out of nowhere or loses consciousness and cannot be woken up, call 911 immediately. During this call, describe the event in detail to the 911 operator and describe the location of the laboratory. After 911 is called, the person who communicated with the 911 operator should go downstairs to t he front of Bellmont Hall to meet emergency personnel and direct them to the laboratory. The other researcher should remain with the participant. Once emergency personnel have arrived and the situation is under control and stable, the PI should be called. See TMS Training Manual and Safety Guidelines for more details.