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PARTICIPATE
Research
that is conducted in our lab involves investigating the areas of the brain
involved in memory for personal events and facts acquired a long time ago. We
are especially interested in testing birders' memory, particularly those who
keep detailed journals relating to bird sightings (including web postings).
Birders represent a unique group, as they are experts in visually discriminating bird species, and this appears to involve the same parts of the brain that are involved in humans' ability (birders and non-birders) to perceive other people's faces!!
Currently, we are looking for individuals who have extensive experience as bird watchers (10 years or more), between the ages of 35-65 to take part in our behavioural or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) studies. The imaging study involves scanning birders with MRI as they recollect past experiences relating to bird sightings in comparison to recalling facts about various types of birds. Scanning would take place at Baycrest. The behavioural study involves testing individual's memory for personal experiences and facts relating to birds with paper-pencil and computerized tasks and would take place at York University.
Volunteers would receive monetary compensation for their participation.
If you think you would be interested in participating in this new and exciting research study, and/or would like some more information pertaining to this study, please feel free to email me privately at shornyak@yorku.ca. Your expert knowledge and memory of birds is exactly what we are looking for to help us answer our research questions.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Hornyak, MSc PhD Candidate, Clinical Psychology York University, Toronto