INFORMATION SHEET: “BRAINSHARE” DATABASE
Name of database: BrainShare
Version Number: 01
Version Date: 20th March 2014
Date of Ethical Review: 23rd April 2014
Contact details:
Prof Jamie Ward, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH. Email:
jamiew@sussex.ac.uk, phone: 01273 876598
Dr. Ryota Kanai, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH. Email:
r.kanai@sussex.ac.uk, phone: 01273 678990
Dear Participant,
As well as participating in the current research project, you are being invited to join a database for
research. Before you decide, it is important for you to understand what the database is and its function.
Please take time to read the following information carefully. We would like to emphasise that joining the
database is optional and is not a requirement to participate in the current research project you have been
recruited to.
What is ‘Brainshare’?
‘Brainshare’ is a database of different brain scans that enables researchers at the University of Sussex to
re-use your existing scan in future research. This may lead to a better understanding of the brain that not
only increases our scientific knowledge but also leads to benefits to society.
Sometimes researchers need to find scans belonging to a particular demographic group (e.g. right-handed
males aged 30-40 years); for instance, to study the way that the brain ages or to compare typical brains
against a patient population. A study of this kind would require no further involvement from you.
For other kinds of research we can re-use your scan by linking it to data collected in other ongoing studies.
For instance, we can link individual differences in brain structure (from your scan) to different abilities and
styles of thinking (e.g. from tests and questionnaires you can do online or in person). In order to do this we
would need to invite you to take part in additional studies via email.
How will ‘BrainShare’ work?
All projects that use this database will have been approved by a University Ethical Review. This will give
the researchers permission to access your scan and background details (age, sex, handedness, first
language) but your contact details will not be passed on. If the research requires you to be contacted to
invite you to take part in another study (e.g. to fill in an online questionnaire) then this will be done by the
database managers by email. These emails will not be sent more than once per month. You may also
browse ongoing studies on the website and opt-in at any time:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/psychology/brainshare/
You are not obliged to take part in any of the additional studies and you will be given separate information
sheets and consent forms relating to these.
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Information sheet date of issue: 18th March 2014
Information sheet version number: 1
This database has ethical approval and is maintained and managed to University of Sussex
standards.
What will happen to my data?
The ‘Brainshare’ database will store the following information: your name, your email address, a unique
identifier, your age, gender, handedness and first language (as some research requires native English
speakers) – in addition to your brain scan.
Access to this information is limited to a small number of researchers who manage the database. Your
name and contact details will not be passed to anyone outside of this team.
Other data relating to research you have taken part in (e.g. by filling in questionnaires, or taking part in
experiments) will not be stored in, or linked to, this database. It would remain part of the individual
research project itself.
What if I change my mind?
If you change your mind and would like to withdraw from the ‘Brainshare’ database, please contact
brainshare@sussex.ac.uk
All of your identifiable data and contact details will be withdrawn from the database and you will no longer
be contacted with invitations for upcoming experiments or projects.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information sheet.
Please ask the researcher if you have any more questions.
<Insert Current Research Project Title>
<Insert Version Number>
<Insert Date>
<Insert Contact details in full>
If you have any questions, concerns or would like to withdraw your information from the
database please contact brainshare@sussex.ac.uk or:
Prof Jamie Ward, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH. Email:
jamiew@sussex.ac.uk, phone: 01273 876598
Dr. Ryota Kanai, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH. Email:
r.kanai@sussex.ac.uk, phone: 01273 678990
If you have any other questions these can be directed to the University of Sussex Research Governance
Officer Tel: 01273872748 or E: rgoffice@sussex.ac.uk.
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Information sheet date of issue: 18th March 2014
Information sheet version number: 1