FAQ • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
MindCrowd® is an online research study to understand the factors that influence how the human brain functions. Specifically, MindCrowd® researchers want to know how the way people remember things might change as they age. If researchers better understand the way memory changes as people age, they may be able to understand what changes occur in people who have an age-related brain disease that affects their memory (like Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias).
MindCrowd is part of a research study conducted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona and the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Drs. Matt Huentelman and Lee Ryan are the founders and principal scientists behind the MindCrowd project. Dr. Huentelman is a Professor in the Neurogenomics Division at TGen and the head of its Neurobehavioral Research Unit. Dr. Ryan is Professor and Department Head of the Psychology Department at the University of Arizona. She is also Associate Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Arizona.
The MindCrowd test is part of a scientific study to help measure how the brains performs at different ages aimed at studying memory in relation to genetics and other health, medical, environmental, and lifestyle factors. It cannot diagnose memory loss or dementia.
You will take one attention test and one memory test, and answer a few study-related questions.
The online memory test takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
The MindCrowd Memory Test is currently available on tablet, desktop and laptop devices. We really want you to concentrate. But we are working on a smartphone-friendly solution.
Your test results show how you performed compared to all of those who have taken the MindCrowd memory and attention test so far. MindCrowd is testing only a small fraction of your overall cognitive performance. The MindCrowd test results reflect your performance for that specific cognitive domain and do not indicate your overall ability or intelligence.
This test cannot be used to determine your risk for Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. The cognitive tests utilized for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis should be administered in person by a certified examiner. If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and how it is diagnosed please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website or read this article by Dr. Huentelman.
The information you provide and your test results will be used to study, analyze and understand how memory works in healthy people.
We may contact you again for future brain studies. Most studies will be performed online.
You must be 18 years or older to participate in this study.
This is not a treatment study. Your alternative is not to participate.
No. There are no risks associated with taking the brain tests.
Some of the questions we ask may make you feel uncomfortable. You are free to decline to answer any question for any reason. You are also free to end your participation in the study at any time.
You will receive your results from the memory and attention tests and see how your results compare with those of other people who also took the test.
No. You will not be paid for your participation in this study.
No. Taking the Attention and Memory Tests are free.
No, we will not share your personal information without your permission. If you consent to participate in a MindCrowd collaborative study (or have previously done so), we may share or receive identifiable data such as your name or email address with our collaborative partners. This would only be done to link your study data.
If you choose to give us your name and email address, they will be stored separately from your other personal data and test results. Names and email addresses will be stored in secure servers and run by a third-party provider so that we can contact you in a consistent, effective manner. Our email service provider will not contact you, nor will they share your information.
All of our databases are password-protected and secure. No one can identify you without access to both of these data sources.
Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. You may stop participation at any time during the research activity. You can contact the Study Coordinator at crc@tgen.org to withdraw from the study.
If you have any questions or comments about this activity, please contact Dr. Matt Huentelman at mhuentelman@tgen.org. Please go to this web page to find out more about the people involved in this research.
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant in this study or if you have questions, concerns or complaints about the research, you may contact WCG IRB at:
1019 39th Avenue SE Suite 120
Puyallup, Washington 98374-2115
Telephone: 855-818-2289
E-mail: researchquestions@wcgirb.com
WCG IRB is a group of people who perform independent review of research.
For questions, concerns, suggestions, complaints that are not being addressed by the research team, or in case of research-related harm, please contact the TGen Office of Research Compliance at irb@tgen.org.
Please send us an email to theteam@mindcrowd.org
You can make a difference.
Participate in our collaborative effort to help us learn more about brain-related diseases.