NORMAL PHYSIOLOGY

This study aims to improve how doctors observe nerves and muscles using ultrasound, a safe imaging technique. Researchers will collect normal measurements from healthy adults and compare them to people with neuromuscular disorders. Participants will have up to 5 clinic visits for…

This study looks at how changing the amount of protein, fat, carbs, and total calories in your diet affects the energy your body uses to digest food. Healthy adults aged 18 to 60 will stay in a clinic for about 35 days, eating only provided meals and spending 9 separate 24-hour p…

This study aims to understand how the brain works during sleep by using brain scans (fMRI) and brain wave recordings (EEG). Healthy volunteers aged 18 to 34 will sleep in an MRI scanner while sounds are played to measure how deeply they sleep. The goal is to learn more about slee…

This study aims to understand how the brain responds to magnetic stimulation when it is timed with natural brain oscillations. Researchers will test healthy adults and people who had a stroke at least 6 months ago. The goal is to find ways to make brain stimulation more effective…

This study looks at how nicotine changes brain activity in people with major depressive disorder compared to those without. Researchers will use MRI scans and tasks to measure brain function after giving participants either nicotine or a placebo. The goal is to understand why peo…

This study aims to understand how healthy brains process sights and sounds. Researchers will use brain scans, eye tracking, and computer tasks to measure perception, memory, and attention. Up to 10,200 participants aged 13-65 with normal vision and hearing can join, either online…

This study aims to create and validate computer tasks that measure how people learn and make decisions. Researchers will use these tasks in future studies on substance use disorders. Healthy adults aged 18-45 from the Baltimore area can join. Participants will complete tasks invo…

This study aims to improve how we measure metabolism—the rate your body burns calories—by looking at body shape and composition. Researchers will compare healthy volunteers and people with conditions like diabetes, obesity, or cancer. Participants spend two days in the hospital f…

This study is looking at whether overweight girls start puberty earlier than girls of normal weight. Researchers will use breast ultrasound and other tests to tell the difference between breast tissue and fatty tissue. The study will enroll 150 healthy girls ages 8-14 who have so…

This study looks at how social and cultural factors affect how people express pain and how others judge that pain. Researchers will measure pain responses in healthy volunteers and then test whether observers can accurately estimate someone else's pain. The goal is to understand …

This study aims to better understand pain by examining people with and without pain disorders. Researchers will expose participants to pleasant and unpleasant sensations, like heat, cold, or pressure, and collect health information through exams, questionnaires, and MRI scans. Th…

This study tests how a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called TMS affects learning and decision-making in healthy adults aged 18 to 45. Participants will undergo TMS sessions and brain scans while performing computer tasks. The goal is to understand normal brain function…

This study tests a new type of sensor that measures the tiny magnetic fields produced by brain activity. Researchers want to see if this sensor can pinpoint where in the brain different functions happen more accurately than current technology. Healthy adults aged 18 to 65 who hav…

This study aims to improve MRI and EEG techniques for studying how the brain works, especially related to addiction. Healthy adults aged 18 and older will undergo brain scans and perform simple tasks. The goal is to develop better methods for future research, not to treat any dis…

This study uses a special brain scan called MRS to measure how the brain makes two key chemicals: glutamate (which excites brain cells) and GABA (which calms them). Researchers will scan healthy adults aged 18-65 to improve the accuracy and reliability of this imaging method. The…

This study aims to improve MRI technology by scanning healthy volunteers. Researchers want to collect data to make MRI measurements more accurate and reliable. Participants must be 18 or older and in good health. They will have one or more MRI scans of the brain, liver, or other …

This study aims to understand how psychological factors, such as expectations and emotions, influence the way we perceive pain. Healthy volunteers aged 18-50 will undergo brain scans (MRI) and pain tests (heat or electric shocks) while their heart rate, breathing, and other respo…

This study aims to improve MRI scanning methods used in aging research. Researchers will test and refine imaging techniques on healthy adults and people with certain health conditions. Participants undergo MRI scans, sometimes with contrast agents or while performing simple tasks…