29/04/2026
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
Study Title
How do low mood and anxiety change the way we make decisions?
Original project title:
Investigating EEG signatures of evidence accumulation in individuals with low mood and anxiety
You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. This letter describes what the study is about and what it takes to participate. Please read the letter carefully and discuss it with others, if you wish.
You can also ask us, before or during the research, if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part. If you are interested in taking part, please contact the study team at the following email: [email protected] .
Thank you for reading this!
What is the purpose of the study?
This study is part of a research project looking at how the brain processes information when people make simple decisions. We measure brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), a safe and non-invasive method that records the brain’s electrical signals through small sensors placed on the scalp.
We are interested in how these brain signals relate to the way people respond to things in their environment, make choices, and learn from the results of their actions.
By studying these processes in people who are experiencing low mood or anxiety, we hope to better understand how the brain supports decision-making and learning during these experiences.
We are particularly interested in whether patterns of brain activity might help us identify who is most likely to benefit from psychological support. In the future, this knowledge could help researchers develop better ways to predict which treatments are most helpful for people with depression.
Why have I been invited to participate?
You are being invited because you are an adult who is about to receive psychological support for low mood and anxiety. The study is conducted at the University of Glasgow.
The inclusion criteria for the study are:
• Age between 18 and 65 years
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• Ability to understand basic English
• No diagnosis of severe neurological or mental disorder
• No current treatment with psychiatric medications
• About to receive psychological support for low mood and anxiety
Do I have to take part?
No, it is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part, you will be given this information sheet to keep and be asked to sign a consent form. If you decide to take part, you are still free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason.
Importantly, choosing not to take part, or deciding to withdraw later, will not affect your care or treatment in any way.
What will happen to me if I take part?
If you decide to take part, you will be invited to attend two experimental sessions at the University of Glasgow. One session will take place before the start of your psychological treatment, and the second session will take place after your treatment has ended.
Each session will be conducted at the EEG laboratory (Room 241, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, 62 Hillhead Street). Each visit will take between 2 and 2.5 hours in total.
Here is what will happen during the visit:
1. Arrival and consent (5-10 min)
o You will be welcomed to the lab and given this information sheet to read.
o We will answer any questions you might have.
o We will check that you meet the basic eligibility criteria (e.g. age, health, vision).
o If you are happy to take part, you will be asked to sign a consent form.
2. Preparation for EEG recording (30–40 min)
o We will fit you with a stretchy EEG cap containing 64 small sensors that measure your brain’s electrical activity.
o A small amount of gel will be used to improve contact between the sensors and your skin.
o We will also place a small sensor on your shoulder to record heart activity (ECG), and use an eye-tracker to record eye movements during the task.
3. Computer-based task (about 45min)
o You will sit in a comfortable chair about one metre from a computer screen.
o You will complete a simple computer task in which you will make quick decisions about visual images.
o The task is split into four short blocks (about 7 minutes each), with 2-minute breaks in between but you can take longer breaks if you wish.
o We will also record your brain activity while you rest (5 minutes)
4. End of session (10–15 min)
o We will remove the EEG cap. Towels, shampoo, and a private space will be available if you wish to wash your hair.
o You will be asked to complete 2 brief self-rated questionnaires on your mental health.
o You will complete a short questionnaire about your general experience.
o You will have the opportunity to ask questions and will receive your payment.
Additional information:
• No video or audio recording of your face or voice will be taken.
• Only brain, heart, and eye movement data will be recorded.
• Around 20 volunteers will take part in this study in total.
What do I have to do?
You are expected to continue with your daily life; we do not expect you to change any activity you routinely do.
We will ask you to arrive well rested to the experiment and to have had your breakfast or lunch as appropriate.
You will arrive to the lab at the time agreed and will have to follow instructions during the task. You will have to let us know if you feel uncomfortable or need a break.
You will have to avoid excessive movement during EEG recording to ensure good quality data.
Being pregnant does not affect participation in this study.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
EEG is a completely non-invasive techniques and there are no known or foreseeable risks or side effects associated with these recordings. However, to avoid you feeling uncomfortable by the need to sit still throughout the recordings, we will have enough breaks in which you can move around.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
By taking part in this study, you will help researchers better understand how the brain supports decision-making and learning in people who experience low mood and anxiety. Additionally, you will be reimbursed for your time (up to £20 per visit).
You will receive no direct benefit from taking part in this study. The study has no diagnostic value nor health benefits. Should an abnormality exist in your brain (although this is highly unlikely), this would not be seen in the data acquired in the context of this experiment.
Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?
All information which is collected about you, or responses that you provide, during the course of the research, will be kept strictly confidential. You will be identified by an ID number, and any information about you will have your name and address removed so that you cannot be recognised from it. Please note that assurances on confidentiality will be strictly adhered to unless evidence of serious harm, or risk of serious harm, is uncovered. In such cases, the University may be obliged to contact relevant statutory bodies/agencies.
Any data in paper form will be stored in locked cabinets in rooms with restricted access at the University of Glasgow. All data in electronic format will be stored on secure password–protected computers. No one outside of the research team or appropriate governance staff will be able to find out your name, or any other information which could identify you.
What will happen to my data?
• We may be collecting and storing identifiable information from you in order to undertake this study. This means that the University is responsible for looking after your information and using it properly. We may keep identifiable information about you until May 2026 and will not pass this information to a third party without your express permission.
• Your rights to access, change or move the information we store may be limited, as we need to manage your information in specific ways in order for the research to be reliable and accurate. If you withdraw from the study, we will keep the information about you that we have already obtained. To safeguard your rights, we will use the minimum personally-identifiable information possible. You can find out more about how we use your information from the Principal Investigator of this research, Dr. Filippo Queirazza, email: [email protected].
• Researchers from the University of Glasgow collect, store and process all personal information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (2018).
• All study data will be held in accordance with The General Data Protection Regulation (2018)
• The data will be stored in archiving facilities in line with the University of Glasgow retention policy of up to 10 years. After this period, further retention may be agreed or your data will be securely destroyed in accordance with the relevant standard procedures.
• Your identifiable information might be shared with people who check that the study is done properly and, if you agree, in coded form with other organisations or universities to carry out research to improve scientific understanding. Your data will form part of the study result that will be published in expert journals, presentations, and on the internet for other researchers to use. Your name will not appear in any publication.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this research will be published in scientific journals. You can obtain a copy of the published results contacting Dr. Filippo Queirazza at [email protected] .
Who is organising and funding the research?
This research project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Who has reviewed the study?
The project has been reviewed by the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences Ethics Committee.
Contact for Further Information
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about taking part in this study, please talk to Dr Gabriela Cruz by email [email protected] , 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
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