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BrainBiteAroma Study

Do you want to know the secrets of the brain when you view the food product and smell an odor? We are seeking enthusiastic participants for a unique science experience. Register now for a spot in our study if you're eager to learn more about the fascinating interplay between aroma and brain activity.

What's in it for you?

  • A financial compensation of €40, a piece of snack, and a picture of your brain for participating in the entire study.
  • A compensation of €5 in the form of a gift voucher if it is determined during the screening that you are not eligible to participate in the study.

Who can participate?

Inclusion criteria:

  • Aged 18 - 55 at the time of inclusion
  • Healthy BMI (18.5 - 25 kg/m2)
  • Self-reported healthy
  • Having normal or corrected-to-normal vision
  • Having a normally functioning sense of smell
  • Willing to comply with study procedures
  • Agreeing to know about chance findings that might suggest you have a disease and agreeing to let your general physician know about it

Exclusion criteria:

  • Dislike the odors under investigation
  • Having any allergy, intolerance, or oversensitivity to certain food products or having dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, halal etc. (self-reported)
  • Being a regular smoker (smoking one or more cigarettes per day)
  • Being pregnant, lactating, or planning on becoming pregnant during the study period.
  • Using prescribed or non-prescribed medication in the month prior to the time of inclusion other than occasional use of pain medication (such as paracetamol and NSAIDs) or oral contraceptives
  • Having a history of drug or alcohol dependence
  • Having a psychiatric, neurological, or eating disorder
  • Being employed by the Division of Human Nutrition and Health of Wageningen University or doing an MSc internship/writing a thesis at the Sensory Science and Eating Behavior chair group within the Division of Human Nutrition and Health of Wageningen University
  • Participating in another medical-scientific study

MRI-related Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having a fear of tight spaces (claustrophobia)
  • Having a contra-indication to MRI scanning (including, but not limited to):
    • Pacemakers and defibrillators
    • Epilepsy or family history of epilepsy
    • Metal pieces stuck anywhere on/in the head
    • Implants that respond to magnets
    • Having piercings on the head that cannot be removed
  • Having eyesight issues, that cannot be corrected with contact lenses or MRI-safe glasses (maximum strength is +6 and -6)

When and where?

The study includes two sessions.

  • Session 1: screening/training, 40min, Helix building (Wageningen University)
  • Session 2: test session, 1 hour and 10 minutes, Hospital Gelderse Vallei (Ede)