Virginia Tech EEG study in Blacksburg: up to $50 cash for two in-person sessions (ages 18-30 or 60-80)

The Diana Lab in Virginia Tech's Department of Psychology is recruiting younger adults (18-30) and older adults (60-80) for a two-session study on how attention affects decision-making. Both sessions are in person at Williams Hall on the Blacksburg, VA campus, so this only works if you can get there.

What you'd do

• Session 1 (about 2 hours): questionnaires and computer-based tasks while wearing an EEG cap. The electrodes go on your scalp with saline gel, so you may leave with gel in your hair. Paid $20 cash or 1 SONA credit.
• Session 2 (about 45-60 minutes): more questionnaires and computer tasks, no EEG. Paid $30 cash or 3.5 SONA credits.

You need to meet minimum performance criteria in Session 1 to continue. If you don't, Session 2 is cancelled, but you still get the Session 1 cash or credit. Completing both sessions pays up to $50 cash or 4.5 SONA credits. The lab's news notice says Session 2 is 48-72 hours after Session 1, while the interest form says 72-96 hours, so confirm the gap when you schedule.

Who can take part

• Aged 18-30 or 60-80 and fluent in English
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• No cochlear implants, and comfortable removing hearing aids during data collection
• Comfortable having saline gel and EEG electrodes applied to your scalp
• Not previously signed up for or in one of the lab's earlier studies (Attention and Multitasking, Questions About Objects, Memory Strategies, Retrieval Study)

If you have braids, locs, extensions or another long-term style close to the scalp, the form asks you to contact the team before scheduling. Hair pieces attached with metal parts need to be removed.

How to apply

Fill in the lab's eligibility and interest form. The team emails you to schedule. Questions: Erica S. Shafer, [email protected]. No recruitment end date is listed.

Original notice: Diana Lab EEG study on Virginia Tech News (11 Oct 2026)