1. What is this study about? 

The purpose of this study is to understand a new treatment in lifelong dyslexia. This treatment involves accelerated brain stimulation. It involves direct instruction on reading.

 2. Am I eligible to participate in this study? 

• You must be between the ages of 18-26 to participate. 
• You must have a history of lifelong dyslexia or reading impairment. 
• Because reading is linked to language, you must be a native speaker of English 

3. Where and when will this study take place? 

Screening and pre-testing will occur at the GSU/GT Center for Advanced Brain Imaging (CABI) or over video conferencing. Program participation will occur at CABI. All MRI scans and TMS sessions will occur at CABI.  The Summer reading program part of the study will be from Monday June 26, 2023  to Monday July 31, 2023 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

4. Who will I interact with if I participate in this study? 

You will interact with the study staff and other research participants in the program. You will be aware they are participants. They will be aware that you are a participant. 

5. Are there any risks or discomforts I might experience by being in the study? 

There are risks involved in this study. There is a risk of mild discomfort, claustrophobia, and/or boredom in the MRI scanner. There is a risk of neck pain and scalp discomfort during TMS. There is a risk of temporary/mild hearing impairment, and headache during TMS. There is a serious, rare risk of seizure from TMS.  There is a risk to your confidentiality. We cannot guarantee that information you share with other participants will be protected. 

6. What are the reasons I might want to volunteer for this study? 

This study is designed to benefit you. You may benefit from direct instructional training. You may benefit from research instruction. You may benefit from accelerated TMS. Overall, we hope to gain information about the treatment of lifelong dyslexia. We will gain information about how the brain reads in lifelong dyslexia.  

7. Will I get paid to participate in this research study? 

You will receive compensation for participating in this study. You will receive $20 per hour for the session (~104 hours) totaling $2080. Lunch will be provided each day during the study. 

8. Does it cost anything to participate in this study? 

You will not be charged for any of the experimental study procedures, including the MRI scan. 

9. Will I benefit from participating in this research study? 

This study is designed to benefit you personally. You may benefit from direct instructional training targeted for your specific reading abilities. You may benefit from research instruction. You may benefit from brain stimulation. Overall, we hope to gain information about the treatment of lifelong dyslexia. We will gain information about how the brain reads in lifelong dyslexia. 

10. What is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)? [LEARN MORE ABOUT MRI HERE] 

An MRI scan is an imaging technique that produces images of body structures. The MRI scanner is a tube surrounded by a giant circular magnet. You will be asked to lie still on a moveable bed. The bed is inserted into a small tunnel inside the magnet. You will be asked to conduct certain activities. You will be asked to listen to certain instructions/music. The MRI scan will produce the resulting images. The images produced by the MRI are detailed. They can detect changes of structures within the body.  

11. What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)? 

The TMS equipment consists of an electric stimulator and a wire coil. Turning the stimulator on and off produces brief, noninvasive electrical currents in the coil. These currents create a short-lived magnetic field around that coil. The wire coil is coated in plastic in order to insulate the stimulator current. It is shaped like an 8. It is a little larger than a letter-size piece of paper. When the coil is held close to the head, it generates a magnetic pulse. The pulse can make very small electric changes (currents) in the part of the brain that is closest to the coil. These currents are similar to the currents that the brain uses to communicate. By inducing these currents with the TMS coil, we can temporarily change the way that the underlying brain region works. We can make the region work harder or less hard. In this study, the TMS coil will be held against your head. We will focus the magnetic pulses on an area of the brain that is important for reading. If this leads to performance changes, we know that this region is important for reading tasks. TMS has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for depression. Researchers are also studying whether TMS might help treat other conditions involving the brain.