What is the NEA Research Lab: Imagination Central study about?
The purpose of this study is to better understand the impact that the arts and creative activities can have on adolescent development. We also hope to collaborate with the adolescents to develop new scientific tools that can be used for measuring the brain during creative thinking.
Who can participate?
English-speaking adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 with at least one English-speaking parent or guardian.
What will happen if I decide to allow my child to participate?
Participation will involve attending after-school classes approximately once a week during the 2022-2023 school year. Creative arts activities will be led by professional artists as well as faculty and students from the University of Minnesota. Classes involve a combination of creating (writing, visual arts, design, performance), responding to art, imagining, designing, contemplating, and sharing. Adolescents will collaborate with scientists to design ways to measure creativity, including using an MRI scan to measure brain activity during imagination.
Is there any way that doing this study activity could be bad for my child?
During the creative activities your child might feel frustrated with being asked to think in a way they may not be used to thinking. During this study your child will be asked to have 3 MRIs. Sometimes an MRI machine can be difficult for people who are afraid of or are uncomfortable with small spaces. An MRI might also make your child feel dizzy or sick to their stomach. If your child has any discomfort during the MRI they can tell the researchers and the MRI will be stopped. Before you agree to allow your child to be a part of this study you will have an opportunity to discuss the risks and benefits in detail with a member of the research team as part of the informed consent process. Your child will also need to discuss the benefits, risks and details of the study with a member of the research team and give their assent.
What happens if I do not want my child to participate in this research study?
You and/or your child may choose not to be in this study and it will not be held against you. You and/or your child may also choose to stop participating in the study at any time.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Umnteen@umn.edu