In this study, you will see a stream of visual items (letters and numbers) presented quickly. your task is to identify a black number, i.e., to indicate which number (3, 4, 6, 7...) has been presented in a stream by pressing a response key.A $10 gift voucher for your participation (at least 18 years old and have a normal vision).

For Females and Males aged 18 to 45
Includes healthy volunteers
Locations: Christchurch

We are looking for volunteers to participate in a study to measure skill and strength of muscles involved in swallowing. We want to determine whether there are any patterns of swallowing impairment within people who have stroke or myopathy, compared to healthy people. This study will give us a better understanding of what happens to swallowing when the brain and/or muscles are damaged, and how we can improve treatment.  If you agree to take part in this study, we will place a sensor under your chin to measure muscle activity and muscle force. You will complete the following 4 tasks:Swallow as hard as you can. Open your jaw against resistance. “Hit” a target on a computer screen by controlling the timing and force of your swallowing.“Hit” a target on a computer screen by controlling the timing and force of your mouth opening.You will also fill out a health questionnaire and participate in a clinical swallowing evaluation. The study will take 60-90 minutes and will be completed in one visit. You will receive a $10 voucher for reimbursement of travel expenses. If you agree to take part in this study, you are free to withdraw at any time, without having to give a reason. If you are interested in participating, please contact: Karen Ng PhD Candidate University of Canterbury Rose Centre for Stroke Recovery and Research Phone: 03 364 2307 Email: [email protected] 

For Females and Males aged 50 to 100
Includes healthy volunteers
Locations: Auckland, Canterbury, Christchurch, Hamilton, Wellington

My name is Patrik Gustafsson and this study is part of the Bachelors’ thesis ‘A Study of Movement Down Spiral Staircases’ and is the final project of a degree in Fire Protection Engineering at Lund University, Sweden. The project is in collaboration with both the company Olsson Fire & Risk and the University of Canterbury and aims to evaluate which parameters play an important role when determining the population flow in spiral stairs. If possible, a hydraulic equation will be derived that can be used in evacuation calculations in buildings and constructions. As a participant you will be asked to make your way down a number of different spiral staircases located on the University of Canterbury campus. Afterwards you will be asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire regarding your experience. Food and refreshments will be available during the day, and a movie voucher will be offered as appreciation for taking the time to participate in the study.More information is available in the attachments below. Small changes might be made, but you will be informed of these as soon as they happen if that is the case.

For Females and Males aged 18 to 60
Includes healthy volunteers
Locations: Christchurch

Swallowing involves a series of “pumps” and “valves” moving food from the mouth to the stomach. In our study, we are interested in how these “pumps” and “valves” function in relation to each other during normal swallowing, especially how those further down the digestive tract affect those before them. We are looking for healthy men and women 35 years of age and older with no prior swallowing problems/ neurological illnesses/ gastrointestinal diseases. You will act as the healthy control group that patients with esophageal diseases are compared against. It will involve just one 45-minute session at the University of Canterbury Rose Centre for Stroke Recovery and Research (situated in St George’s Medical Centre). We will assess your swallowing using technology called high-resolution impedance manometry, where a thin tube is passed through the nose into the stomach to take pressure recordings. You will have some food and drink as we record the pressures while you are swallowing. You will receive a $10 petrol voucher to offset travel costs.

For Females and Males aged 35 to 100
Includes healthy volunteers
Locations: New Zealand