Search Results
Modifiable Prevention and Early Intervention Targets for Unhealthy Eating Behaviors: A Study in First Year Undergraduates
This is a research study investigating the prevalence and manifestation of unhealthy eating behaviors and the relationships of energetic status, cognitive function, and reproductive health in a population of first year college students.
Phase 1 will involve a minimum of 1-2 visits, and completion of surveys about your general health, exercise and nutrition history, eating behaviors and attitudes, stress, and reproductive health, as well as cognitive testing and hair sampling. For those who qualify, Phase 2 will involve approximately 4 additional visits. Each visit will be about 2 hours. The visits include completion of surveys about general health, exercise and nutrition history, eating behaviors and attitudes, stress, and reproductive health, as well as cognitive testing and physiological measurements including blood and hair sampling, and tests of metabolism. Study participation will last at minimum about 1 week, and at maximum completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 will occur over the course of a full academic year.
$25 per visit, up to $75
Age 18-25 Years
BMI 16.5-30 kg/m2
No apparent metabolic, endocrine, or musculoskeletal disease.
Serious or chronic health condition (including thyroid illness, metabolic disease)
Unwilling to adhere to study protocol
Lactating
Does not speak English or are unable to give consent
Defining the role of slow eye movements on limb motor control
The purpose of this study is to define how eye movements contribute to eye-hand coordination. All procedures to be used in our study will be non-invasive. The task during the study will be performed with a robotic handle that participants will grasp with their right hand. They will interact with visual stimuli by moving the robotic handle. The robotic environment will attempt to simulate real-world mechanical interactions, such as those experienced during catching a ball. Our objective is to understand how the nervous system processes visual sensory information of moving objects through slow eye movements called smooth pursuit eye movements.
During this study, we will ask you to come to our laboratory located in 23 Recreation Building, Penn State University, on two days separated by a maximum of 48 hours. Both sessions will last approximately 90-120 minutes.We will ask you to perform an eye-hand coordination task using a robot. You will sit in a modified chair and grasp a handle that permits you to move your hand leftward, rightward, towards and away from your body. A display system will project visual targets into the same plane as your hands, which will allow you to interact virtually with the visual targets. These targets will move in the workspace. When the target comes in contact with your arm, the robot will apply a gentle force to mimic what you would typically experience when you catch a ball.
40
Male and female participants who volunteer for the study and provide informed consent.
Participants will be right-hand dominant individuals.
They will have normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
Participants should be able to sit upright in a chair for long periods (up to 2 and a half hours) with rest.
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders.
Eye or vision problems.
Cognitive impairment such that informed consent cannot be obtained, or that participant would not be safe with the protocol.
Medication that could make the participant drowsy or tired during the experiment.
The role of thromboxane A2 and its receptor in vascular regulation in women with endometriosis
Women with endometriosis have more thromboxane being produced in their platelets. Thromboxane affects blood vessels, making them constrict, and sensory nerves, making them more sensitive. This study will determine if women with endometriosis are negatively effected by the excess thromboxane.
There will be three in-person visits: one screening and two experimental visits. Participants will take aspirin before one visit and a placebo before the other then will undergo brief tests of nerve sensitivity and a blood draw.
$150
born with a uterus
with and without endometriosis
hormone replacement therapy within previous 2 months
nicotine use
pregnant or breastfeeding
aspirin allergy or hypersensitivity
The role of ocular and limb motor inhibition for dexterous motor control
In this project, participants will perform experiments where they will be asked to look at salient virtual targets and make reaching movements to those targets, while ignoring other visual stimuli presented to them.
During this study, we will ask you to come to our laboratory located in 23 Recreation Building, Penn State University, on a single day.We will ask you to perform an eye-hand coordination task using a robot. You will sit in a modified chair and grasp a handle that permits you to move your hand leftward, rightward, towards and away from your body. A display system will project visual targets into the same plane as your hands, which will allow you to interact virtually with the visual targets. These targets will be either bright or dark and you will be instructed to look at some of these targets (while ignoring others) and make reaching movements to some of these targets.
20
Male and female participants who volunteer for the study and provide informed consent.
Participants will be right-hand dominant individuals.
They will have normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
Participants should be able to sit upright in a chair for long periods (up to 2 and a half hours) with rest.
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders
Eye or vision problem
Cognitive impairment such that informed consent cannot be obtained, or that participant would not be safe with the protocol.
Medication that could make the participant drowsy or tired during the experiment
Rapid Motor Regulation Mechanism for Arm Movement in Response to Visual Motion
This study looks at the relationship between motor control via. arm movement and visual stimuli. After participating in brief calibration protocol for the eye tracking system, participants will be moving a robotic handle to interact with visual stimuli during various tasks. Participants will spend approximately 2 hours in the lab.
There will be one approximately 2-hour visit. They will then be asked to complete 20-25 blocks of hand movements while looking at a moving virtual stimulus with a large visual background. Participants will receive regular breaks during the experiment.
$20
Right-hand dominant
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
Able to sit upright in a chair for long periods
Able to grasp and move objects with both hands
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders
Eye or vision problems (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, a detached retina or macular degeneration)
Cognitive impairment such that informed consent cannot be obtained, or that participant would not be safe with the protocol
Medication that could make the participant drowsy or tired during the experiment
To stretch, not strain: Impact of passive stretching on calf muscle and gait mechanics in peripheral artery disease
People with narrowed blood vessels in their legs can only walk a short distance before needing to sit down due to pain in their calf muscles. Most of these patients do not follow their heart doctor's advice to walk at home because it hurts. A therapy that does not involve painful walking would be ideal for these patients to begin to treat their disease so they can eventually walk with less discomfort. We will ask patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) to place both feet into inflatable ankle splints 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks to passively stretch their calf muscles. Before and after this 4-week program, we will measure the health and size of their leg blood vessels, the length, and function of their calf muscles and tendons, and how long they can walk without pain. We will also closely track their joint and foot movements and calf muscle oxygen levels while they walk down a hallway. People with and without risk factors for heart disease are also eligible for this study to compare differences in vascular and muscular health to patients with PAD. Volunteers without a PAD diagnosis or poor leg circulation will not undergo the 4-week stretch and no-stretch interventions.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and poor leg circulation patients:-4 visits to University Park Clinical Research Center ~3 hours per visit-1 blood draw-Wear a calf muscle stretching device for 30-min a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks and 4 weeks of no stretching-Several muscle and vascular ultrasound measurements-Walking performance tests on and off the treadmill-Wear a smartwatch to monitor physical activity during each 4-week stretch or no stretch interventionParticipants with and without risk factors for heart disease:-2 visits to University Park Clinical Research Center within the same week lasting ~3 hours per visit-Not diagnosed with PAD or poor leg circulation-1 blood draw-Several muscle and vascular ultrasound measurements-Walking performance tests on and off the treadmill
PAD participants can receive up to $450 in compensation. Participants with and without heart disease risk factors (non-PAD participants) will receive $50 for their participation.
Participants (20-85 years) with or without risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc.) and not diagnosed with PAD
Ability to walk on or off a treadmill at 1 mile per hour
Men and women who are not pregnant or nursing
Heart attack within the past 6 months or unstable angina
Severe lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative joint disease, critical limb ischemia
Major surgery or lower extremity revascularization surgery within the past 6 months
Recent serious ankle, Achilles tendon, or foot injuries
The effects of creatine supplementation on neurocognitive function of college students of differing levels and types of physical activity
This study design is a survey that collects information about students' active level and supplement use, with an emphasis on creatine. The difference between contact and non-contact athletes will be examined, in addition to people who are considered inactive/low activity. This will help provide information of how physical activity related supplementation use affects cognition in different populations, with varying amounts of neurotrauma.
All participants will complete a digital survey that provides information about their dietary supplementation and physical activity habits. As part of the survey, participants will be allowed to indicate their interest and availability to come to a laboratory setting to complete a brief batter of neurocognitive tests.
Has had concussion in last 3 months
Defining the role of slow eye movements on limb motor control in younger and older adults
The purpose of this study is to define how eye movements contribute to eye-hand coordination in individuals of the age group 18-50 (young adults) and 65-80 (older adults). Specifically, the aim of the study is to understand how slow eye movements affect arm and hand movements. All procedures to be used in our study will be non-invasive. The task during the study will be performed with a robotic handle that participants will grasp with their right hand. They will interact with visual stimuli by moving the robotic handle. The robotic environmentwill attempt to simulate real-world mechanical interactions, such as those experienced during catching a ball.
During this study, we will ask you to come to our laboratory located in 23 Recreation Building,Pennsylvania State University, on two days separated by a maximum of 48 hours. Both sessions will last approximately 90-120 minutes. During the first session, we will review the procedures with you and if you agree to participate, you will sign this form and then proceed to perform the study. You will perform about 20-25 blocks of hand movements. Each block will consist of 24-30 trials and each trial will last between 3-5 seconds.The second day will be identical to the first day but the order of trials within a block will be changed.
$10/hour
Participants will be right-hand dominant individuals.
They will have normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
Participants should be able to sit upright in a chair for long periods (up to 2 and a half hours) with rest.
Participants should be able to grasp and move objects with both hands.
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders
Eye or vision problems (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, a detached retina or macular degeneration).
Cognitive impairment
Medication that could make the participant drowsy or tired during the experiment.
Non-Hispanic Black Individuals and Vascular Function
This study will examine the impact of age, sex, and racial/ethnic background on vascular function.
There will be three in-person visits: one screening, one experimental visit, and one visit to return equipment (if applicable). Blood will be drawn at the screening and experimental visit. Participants will undergo tests for cardiovascular measures.
$100
Male or Female
Identify as Non-Hispanic Black or Non-Hispanic White
Recreational drug use (e.g., marijuana)
Pregnant and/or breastfeeding
Taking blood pressure medication
Diagnosed with metabolic and/or cardiovascular disease(s)
Cooling strategies for older adults
Average global temperatures and the number of heat waves have increased recently. Humans sweat and increase blood flow to the skin to cool their body when they get hot. Older adults (>65 yrs) do not do this as well as younger adults. This makes them at risk for heat-related illnesses. It is important to learn about cooling strategies that will lower body temperature for older adults in the heat. In this study, we will determine if placing your hands and forearms in cold water and/or supplementation with folic acid are effective cooling strategies for older adults resting in the heat.
There will be 4 in-person visits in a hot and humid environment, there will be folic acid supplementation and placebo for 6 weeks each
300
Asymptomatic and no signs/symptoms of disease
Medications that could alter cardiovascular responses or body temperature regulation during exercise (blood pressure reducers, fever reducers, anti-depressants, etc.)
Tobacco or recreational drug use
Post-menopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy