Reward and Positive Affect Imaging Research (REPAIR) After Trauma
Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Up to 80% of individuals will experience a traumatic event at some point in their life, and a subset will go on to develop post-trauma psychopathology (PTP), such as post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression.
One manifestation of PTP is a reduced capacity for experiencing positive emotions, and greater reductions in this capacity are associated with a worse course of illness, greater disability, and poorer response to treatments. As the brain and behavioral processes underlying this aspect of PTP symptoms are largely unknown and highly pertinent to treatment development and the reduction of PTP public health burden, the overarching goal of this project is to understand how the brain processes underlying the pursuit, processing, and obtainment of rewards are altered in PTP and how these alterations relate to the capacity to experience positive emotion, quality of life, and functional impairment.
For this study we are currently looking for individuals who:
- experienced a trauma (e.g. assault, combat, car crash, etc.)
- are either mentally healthy OR are experiencing mental health difficulties (e.g. difficulty feeling happy, anxiety, etc.)
- are 21-50 years old, English-speaking, and right handed
- are NOT taking daily psychiatric medication and are NOT in regular psychotherapy
- are NOT current regular daily nicotine/tobacco users
And want to participate in a paid research study involving brain scans in an MRI machine!
Individuals can be compensated up to $250 and will receive a free image of their brain!
If you are interested please contact us at fonzolab@austin.utexas.edu or you can complete the initial screening form:
Initial Screening Form for REPAIR study
We will then contact you via e-mail and inform you of your potential eligibility.
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Threat-Reward Interactions in Post-Trauma Psychopathology (TRIPP)
Funded by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF)
Two major components of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are heightened emotional responses to threat and diminished ability to experience positive emotions in response to positive or rewarding experiences. The way in which the brain systems underlying threat and reward processing interact and influence one another to result in these emotional disturbances in PTSD is currently unknown.
The goal of this study is to understand how neurocircuitry function underlying threat and reward processing is impacted by the development of PTSD and how these functional changes relate to PTSD symptoms of hypervigilance to threat and diminished experience of positive emotions.
For this study we are currently looking for individuals who:
- experienced a trauma (e.g. assault, combat, car crash, etc.)
- are either mentally healthy OR are experiencing mental health difficulties (e.g. difficulty feeling happy, anxiety, etc.)
- are 21-50 years old, English-speaking, and right handed
- are NOT taking daily psychiatric medication and are NOT in regular psychotherapy
- are NOT current regular daily nicotine/tobacco users
And want to participate in a paid research study involving brain scans in an MRI machine!
Individuals can be compensated up to $175 and will receive a free image of their brain!
If you are interested please contact us at fonzolab@austin.utexas.edu or you can complete the initial screening form:
Initial Screening Form for TRIPP study
We will then contact you via e-mail and inform you of your potential eligibility.
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One Mind Study
Funded by the 2020 One Mind–Baszucki Brain Research Fund Rising Star Research Award
Affective disorders–such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety disorders–are some of the most prevalent and debilitating mental health conditions. All are characterized by prominent symptoms of exaggerated negative emotions and mood states, which are known to be critically tied to the function of a brain region known as the amygdala. A promising new method to non-invasively modulate brain function, known as focused ultrasound, has recently emerged as a cutting-edge technique to target deep brain structures (such as the amygdala) which are not otherwise reachable by standard technologies currently in clinical use. Using low intensity, high-frequency sound waves to reach these brain areas, it may be possible to directly shift brain function to alleviate exaggerated negative emotions and mood states in individuals currently suffering from an affective disorder.
The goal of this study is to develop focused ultrasound into a new therapeutic tool for the treatment of affective disorders.
For this study we are currently looking for individuals who:
- are between the ages of 18 and 65
- Have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or depression, OR do not have and have not been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and would like to be part of the mentally healthy control group
- are fluent in English
- are willing to undergo focused ultrasound and MRI procedures
- can visit the laboratory several times over the course of 2 to 6 weeks
If you are interested in more information, please contact us! Control group individuals can earn up to $275, and those with a mental health diagnosis can earn up to $725 for participation in the study. Those eligible to participate in the MRI portion will receive free images of their brain!
If you are interested please contact us at fonzolab@austin.utexas.edu or you can complete the initial screening form:
Initial Screening Form for One Mind study
We will then contact you via e-mail and inform you of your potential eligibility.