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Associate Professor
School of Psychology
University of Newcastle,
Callaghan NSW 2308
AUSTRALIA
Phone: (02) 4921 5977
Email: Juanita.Todd@newcastle.edu.au
The brain automatically uses information about the likelihood of sounds in the environment to decide what is
important. When the brain encounters repetitive sounds it reduces the size of the response to these sounds
because it learns to predict them and learns that they do not carry important information. When the brain
then encounters a different sound it responds more strongly to these rare events and this larger response
includes a component called a mismatch negativity or MMN response. This process happens outside your
awareness, even during sleep. In this study we are going to ask you to watch a DVD movie or perform a
particular task and ignore the sounds that we present to you over headphones. Our sound sequences have
been designed to determine the time frame over which your brain is extracting probability information in
order to determine whether a sound is important or not. From this information we will also begin to
understand which areas of the brain are involved in this process.
If you do decide to participate, you may withdraw from the project at any time without giving a reason and
you have the option of withdrawing any information that identifies you. If you do choose to withdraw you
have the option of withdrawing your data from the project also.
During the recording you will be asked to ignore the sounds whilst you perform a task. That task might
involve a more passive task like viewing a self-selected DVD movie with subtitles or it might involve a more
active task like making decisions about visual stimuli presented on a computer screen.
You will be offered a reimbursement of $30 in Coles Corporate vouchers for your time and inconvenience. If
you are a student enrolled in PSYC1010, PSYC1020, PSYC2500 or PSYC3000 you can instead choose to
receive 4 course credit points for your participation.
If you would like to participate, please contact Katherine Haasnoot (details below) and arrange an
appointment time that suits you. When you attend you will be required to sign a consent form acknowledging
that you have received the information provided above, that all of your questions regarding participation
have been answered to your satisfaction.
Further information
If you would like further information please contact Dr Juanita Todd.
Thank you for considering this invitation.
Dr Juanita Todd
To participate contact:
Katherine Haasnoot
PH: 0249138099 or Katherine.haasnoot@uon.edu.au
Should you have concerns about your rights as a participant in this research, or you have a complaint about
the manner in which the research is conducted, it may be given to the researcher, or, if an independent
person is preferred, to the Human Research Ethics Officer, Research Office, The Chancellery, The
University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia, telephone (02) 49216333, email
Human-Ethics@newcastle.edu.au
.