Protocols

Recruiting

Recruiting Protocol (07/22/03)

Screen - use screening form criteria and schedule US CITIZENS ONLY

Find subject (consult lab coordinator on how).

Call subject.

Print out and fill out screening forms one and two from the participate page (forms also in spanlab file cabinet, 2nd drawer).

Direct subject to the additional form page. Give them name (fmri) and password (fmri). Have them fill out additional forms (EHI, NEO-SF, PANAS-T) and bring to scan (only if it's a new subject). Alternatively you can attach them to an email. Explain that they will be credited for time spent on the forms (at the $20/hr rate)

Subjects will receive $20.00 per hour for scan (including filling out questionnaires, which usually takes .5 hour, i.e., 2 hours total). Session usually lasts 1.5 hours. Subjects will also get to keep whatever cash or food they score during the experiment. Subjects should arrive 10 minutes early.

Get contact phone number for subject and give them a number to call if necessary (cell phone of experimenter, Lucas 1.5T suite is 650 723 8693). They can also print out a map from the web page if desired.

Enter the time in the SPAN lab calendar at http://www.google.com/calendar (user:spanlab, pass: ask lab coordinator). Check the Scan Protocol document for detailed scanning procedure (outlined below).

Scheduling

Scheduling Protocol (updated 06/06/05)

Schedule at Lucas Center: point a web browser to http://rsl.stanford.edu/user ID: "knutson" (or your own ID) password: "xxxxxx" when done, logout

Add event to the lab calendar: go to http://www.google.com/calendar name: "spanlab" password: "xxxxxxx" when done, logout

Scan

(4/26/2005)

Before leaving for Lucas you’ll need:

• the right study questionnaires
• participants’ screening forms
• brian’s log book
• human subjects payment sheet
• cash!!
• subject phone #’s (just in case)
• your card key

Meet participant

1. Check that magnet screen is okay.
2. Review consent form.
3. get participant a locker, have them remove metallic objects from person

Set up in magnet room

1. head coil, mirror, bite bar set up, pad, sheets, earplugs
2. turn on projector

Refer to task specific training document for training script

1. Emphasize understanding of the task, stimuli

Bite bar

1. Explain concern about head motion – “When inside the scanner, please remember that it is important to keep your head motionless. To make this possible we will make a bite bar with an impression of your teeth.”
2. Explain the position that they will be in when inside the scanner (with head tilted back slightly)
3. Take teeth impression. Hold the bite bar yourself and make sure it is straight and that the participant’s head is tilted slightly back when they bite down.

General set-up

1. enter info into Lucas log book
2. enter info into Brian’s log book (name, gender, ethnicity, subject number, task)

Prepare Signa (GE Operation Program)

Set up patient profile (RX manager) – Before landmark is made

1. Click picture of scanner, then “NewPt”
2. Complete the following fields using info from the screening form:
   1. Patient ID: [Principal Investigator] <enter>
   2. Patient name: [First Last] <enter>
   3. Weight (lbs): [xxx] <enter>
   4. Exam description (head and participant’s DOB): [head DOB mm/dd/yyyy] <enter>
3. After landmark:
   1. Click on the head
   2. In the list of protocols, select your protocol. If it’s not there, click “Site”, and try again

Entering participant into scanner

1. Double check for metallic objects
2. Remind participant about using the restroom
3. Have participant put in earplugs (remember to speak loud and clear now)
4. Have participant lie down and position bite bar, pillow underneath legs, ask if they want a blanket.
5. Make sure participant is completely comfortable, make appropriate adjustments. Do not continue with scan unless the bite bar setup is straight, the participant is comfortable, and the head coil slides into place without trouble.
6. Hand the participant the button box and squeeze ball and explain both. Squeeze ball should lie over the participant’s stomach (use tape if necessary to hold it in place).
7. Explain the sequence of scans (Pre task localizers, #of sessions of task, post task structural)
8. Align participant (press ‘align on’, move until crosshairs are right above eyebrows, press ‘landmark’)
9. Slide head coil into place and then check that the participant can see the mirror. Remind participant not to touch the mirror or head coil.
10. Tell the participant that you will communicate over the intercom and then move participant into place.

When participant is ready to start...

Make sure scanner is in research mode

1. Click on “scan mode”
2. Make sure “Research” is selected (NOT clinical! If the scanner is in clinical mode, it will not run spiral in-out research sequences.)

Scan #1 – 3 plane local (~0:40)

1. Ask subject if he can hear you, and adjust volume with knobs on top of keyboard
   1. “ear” ‡ what we hear
   2. “mouth” ‡ what participant hears
2. Tell subject: “OK, we’re going to do three very short structural scans that are each under a minute. Please remember not to move your head during or in between scans. You’re going to hear some clicks in just a minute.”
3. Select: “3 plane local”, then “view edit”
4. Press: “save series”
5. Press: “Prepare to scan”
6. Press: “scan”
7. Write down exam number- to find the number, look at the scan window in the upper right corner (e.g, Ex. 4527)

Scan #3 – Axial Inplane (~2:00)

(The inplane scan is dependent on your ROIs and what coverage of the brain you would like during the scan.)

1. Select “axial plane” , then “view edit”
2. Press: “graphic RX” ‡ this will bring up Inplane Anatomy
3. Click on the sagittal image once with the left mouse button. Now you can again click on the left mouse button and drag the slices.
4. Make sure the 24 slices cover from mid-pons to top of brain. If it doesn’t all fit sacrifice the top of the brain first.
5. Zero out “P/A center” and “L/R center”
6. Press “accept”
7. Write down S-value and I-value in log book (these refer to the inferior and superior coordinates for the slices)
8. Press “Save series”
9. Press “Prepare to scan”
10. Tell subject: “ OK, the next scan will take about 2 minutes. Please remember not to move your head during or in between scans”
11. if the “move to scan” button is blinking warn the subject (“you’ll feel a small shift in the table before the scan begins”) and then press it.
12. Press “Scan”

Scan #4 – Functional scan –run1 (x:xx –duration of your task)

1. Select “sprlio”, then press “view edit”
2. Click ??specs?? and verify the number of volumes acquired (incant=370,midp2=298)
3. Put back in original S/I values (previously recorded in log book)
4. Press “Save series”
5. Press “Prepare to scan”
6. Press “Prep scan”
7. Make sure the task is ready on E-prime desktop
8. Remind subject of the task specifics (refer to training doc for the task)
9. Tell subject: “The task is about to begin. Please try not to move your head. You’ll know the task is starting when you see the screen change...”
10. Press “scan”, and when the white “Stop scan” button lights up on the keyboard, press <space bar> on E-prime desktop keyboard (within 24 sec).
11. When scan is complete, tell participant, “okay, you’ve just completed that session. Please remember to keep your head still while we set up the next scan.” Do not comment on the participant’s performance.

If you have more runs, repeat instructions for scan#3 accordingly

Scan #6 – 3D volume (10:42)

1. Tell subject: “You’ve finished the last session of the task. Try to remain as still as possible, but now you can relax during the structural scan. This scan is about 10 minutes long.”
2. Select “3D volume”, then press “view edit”
3. Press “Graphic RX”
4. Click on the axial image once with the left mouse button. Now you can again click on the left mouse button and drag the slices.
5. Left click on brain, and center box and move until all coordinates zero out, except for L/R.
6. Press “accept”, and write down L/R values
7. Press “save series”, then “prepare to scan”
8. Tell subject: “The structural scan will start in a few seconds.”
9. Press “scan”

If green light is blinking on keyboard (move to scan button), warn subject and then press it before pushing “scan”

End exam

1. Tell subject: “Okay, we’re coming to take you out of the magnet.”
2. Press “end exam”

Print pictures if participant wants them

1. Click Browser icon (picture of screen)
2. Click “browser” on left-hand side
3. Select current patient in left-hand window
4. Select series (3Dvolume, axial inplane, ...)
5. Click “viewer”
6. With image slider, choose nice looking image
7. In blank area at lower-left of screen, type: xr s#
8. Save screen
9. Click browser and choose the screen save series when it appears
10. Adjust brightness and contrast using middle mouse button
11. Print screen by hitting “print” on thermal printer

Post Scan

1. Record the amount of winnings the subject made in each session in Brian’s log book.
2. Pay the participant and have participant fill out the appropriate affect scores, make sure you have all the surveys you need (NEO, PANAS, EHI)
3. Have participant fill out Lucas post scan survey form and sign the payment sheet.
4. Thank the participant, make sure they have all their things, and help them out of the Center.

Moving Files

Moving P-files and structural images to a safe place (There are various ways to move p-files and specific options that can be selected or not selected.)

• See Anne’s instructions next to the computer in the outside room.

Moving behavioral files to a safe place

• Use SecureFX from the eprime computer

put files on the appropriate lab computer (mpfc, dmthal, amygdala or nac)

Tear down

1. Clean up scanner room
2. turn off the projector
3. put Lucas post scan forms in bin

Scan Set Up and Tear Down

Protocol (07/22/03)

Set up

Check button box, projector Train subject on task Make bite bar Have subject demagnetize, go to the bathroom Put subject in scanner, put in earplugs Adjust bite bar Remind subject not to move head or speak Landmark subject Check mirror and visibility

Tear down

Move files offsite (mpfc.stanford.edu) Have subject fill out qaires and exit form Pay subject and fill out reimbursement form Clean up scanner room File forms in lab

Payment

Subject Payment Protocol (06/06/05)

• Pay subject w/ cash or check, subject MUST be a U.S. citizen or give you a photocopy of their green card to receive payment at time of study.

• Fill out the Human Subject Payment Form COMPLETELY (copies in the file cabinet, log book, and Lucas Center Drawer.

• Subjects will receive $20.00 per hour for scan (including filling out questionnaires, if they do so at home before the scan give them .5 hour credit). They also get whatever amount of cash they earned during the task. Write the TOTAL amount paid to the subject in the Human Subjects Payment Form and have the subject sign for it.

• Social Security number and full address ARE REQUIRED for payment to be made.

• Add the payment info to the lab's Google spreadsheet: www.docs.google.com/ (the hsubj_xx file). Fill in date, amount, and study name (but not subj initials) on a new line inserted at the bottom of the current list of payments.

• When you've paid out enough to clear an advance or to receive reimbursement, give the payment forms to the admin (Erlinda) with the total added up and indicate which account and study name (study name refers to IRB protocol name).

DNA Cheek Swab

DNA Sampling Protocol (11/02/05; bk)

Cheek (buccal) swabs can be used to collect cheek epithelial cells from the inside of the mouth. These swabs (also known as cytology brushes) are processed to obtain small amounts of DNA. Participation in this DNA collection is non-invasive and strictly confidential.

This kit contains submission forms for each participant. Sample two swabs from each subject in the lab, or include a return-addressed envelope with the Knutson Lab mailing address if kits are mailed to the participant.

Before sampling:

• Have subject sign consent form.
• Instruct subject to wait at least 15 minutes after eating before collecting the sample. Have subject rinse their mouth out with water. The objective is to collect epithelial cells, not food debris.

Taking samples:

1. When sampling more than one subject, wash your hands between samplings to prevent cross-contamination.
2. Write the subject ID number and date on both cytology brush wrappers (e.g., 001m -- note link to our subject number bk100505.1 in log book).
3. For each brush, open the package from the end nearest the swab handle by peeling back the loose edges of the sleeve about one inch. DO NOT TOUCH THE BRUSH.
4. Grasp the swabs plastic handle and pull the swab out of the sleeve.
5. Ask the subject to open their mouth and remain still. Holding the swab half way down the applicator stick, gently rub and rotate the swabs bristled head against the inside surface of the mouth between the cheek and the gums. Keep good contact with the surface while rubbing for 30 seconds. Use pressure similar to brushing one's gums so that you pick up some buccal tissue.
6. Let the brush air dry for 10-15 minutes. DO NOT BLOW ON THE BRUSH.
7. Place the brush back into the package sleeve. Just fold over the top 1 inch of the sleeve. No need to reseal airtight or tape. A wet brush in an airtight sleeve may grow bacteria and destroy the sample.
8. Repeat steps 2 to 7 above for the second brush. Choose a different location of the cheek area for DNA collection (such as the opposite side of the mouth).
9. For another sampling of a different subject, repeat the entire procedure.
10. Upon completion of all samplings for the current batch, complete the sample submission form. Send all collection kits to the following address:

Behavioral Genetics
Hamilton Lab
UC San Francisco, LPPI
401 Parnassus Avenue
Box 0984-NGL, Rm. G-70
San Francisco, CA 94143

Cancelling a Scan

Cancellation Protocol (updated 06/30/05)

1. Cancel in the Lucas Center calendar (http://rsl.stanford.edu/user)
2. Got to the SPAN web calendar and mark the scan as "CANCELLED" and include the reason in the event description (http://www.google.com/calendar user: spanlab, pass: ask the lab coordinator).
3. Email the lab coordinator. If cancellation is within three days of the scan, the lab coordinator will need to email Anne Sawyer-Glover (email: amsg@stanford.edu) and let her know the reason for cancellation.
4. If the cancellation is the same day as the scan or if the scan time has already begun, go to http://rsl.stanford.edu/user/ and click on the "Notify others of Available Scan Time" link, then follow instructions.

Reporting Scanner Problems

(updated 07/16/2008)

Report Scanner problems on the website: http://rsl.stanford.edu/reports/cgi/scanner-report