DIALOG: Understanding Psychiatric Disorders Through Language

We want to understand how the brain supports language and communication, and why this process can sometimes become disrupted in people experiencing psychosis. Difficulties with organizing speech can make social interactions harder and contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health challenges. By studying brain activity and language patterns in people with and without psychosis, we hope to uncover how thought and communication are connected in the brain and why this process can sometimes become disrupted in people experiencing psychosis. This knowledge can help improve diagnosis, guide personalized treatment, and support better rehabilitation and recovery for individuals living with psychosis.

Poster of the study
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Principal Investigator

Lena Palaniyappan, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Description of study

If you’re eligible, we’ll meet with you for an interview to ask questions about your background, daily life, and health, as well as guide you through a few thinking and language activities. Some parts of the interview will be audio-recorded so we can study how people use language in different situations. You’ll also take part in brain imaging sessions, where we’ll use Magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure your brain activity in real time and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to take detailed pictures of your brain’s structure.

Financial compensation

Yes

Functioning

If you are eligible, we will invite you for a single in-person visit of approximately 5 hours including:

  • Clinical and Cognitive assessments
  • Speech task
  • Non-invasive and safe brain imaging scans:
    • MEG brain scan (records brain activity)
    • MRI brain scan (captures brain structure)

Benefits

By participating in the DIALOG study, you will help advance research on how language and thoughts are connected in the brain. Your contribution will support the development of better diagnostic tools and lead to more effective, precise treatments for individuals living with severe mental health conditions, such as psychosis.

Eligibility criteria

We are looking for healthy volunteers that meet the following criteria:

  • Aged 18–65
  • Able to speak English or French fluently
  • No diagnosed mental illness, or neurological, speech, or auditory impairments.
  • No personal or first-degree family history of psychosis
  • No history of brain trauma
  • No permanent metal in your body (such as dental implants, unremovable piercings, pacemakers, insulin pumps, or surgical metal like bone screws or plates).
  • Not pregnant

Information

Study visit will take place at: Neurological Institute of Montreal (The Neuro), 3801 University Street, Ville-Marie

If you are interested in participating or have any questions, contact: nadia.zeramdini.comtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

or scan: