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Information for Study Participants

Thank you for volunteering to be a research study volunteer!

We appreciate your participation. Here's what you'll need to know before you arrive:

What if I need to cancel my sleep study?

If you need to cancel your study, call or email to let us know.

  • During daytime hours, call or leave a message at (858)246-2154 or email our team at sleepresearch@ucsd.edu.
  • If it is the night of the study, let us know before 7:00 p.m. by calling (858) 822-2411.

What should I wear for an overnight sleep study?

If you are coming for an overnight sleep study, wear or bring comfortable clothes to sleep in.

What do I need to know for an MRI study?

If you are coming for an MRI study, your clothing must contain no metal.

  • Before an MRI:
    • Don't drink too many liquids prior to the scan.
    • Wear comfortable clothing without metal — wear pants and a shirt that have no metal buttons or zippers, and for women wear a bra without any underwire or metal hooks/clasps. We recommend to dress as if you are going to the gym. Jeans are acceptable but if you have pants without metal buttons or zippers that is preferable. If you have no bras without metal, then wear or bring a shirt you would feel comfortable walking down the hall from the restroom to the scanner room without a bra.
  • During an MRI: 
    • You will need to remove all jewelry and remove everything from your pockets, so you may want to leave these items at home if you prefer.
    • There is an area at the building where you can change and store your clothes while you are being scanned.
  • After an MRI:
    • MRI studies are not overnight studies. Typically these studies are finished before midnight, so you will return home after the study is completed.

Where should I park?

See our contact page for maps and parking directions for all of our locations.

What will happen in the morning?

Note: MRI studies are not overnight studies. Typically these studies are finished before midnight, so you will return home after the study is completed.

  • If you are coming for an overnight sleep study, the wakeup time is typically between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and unless there are morning components to the study you are participating in, you will be free to leave after the technician has disconnected all of the monitoring equipment.
  • There are showers at the sleep laboratory. You will have electrode gel in your hair in the morning, so if you require a shower before starting your day at work or elsewhere, let the technician know and they will provide you with towels.

When do I get paid?

You will be paid after you have completed the study. For an overnight study, this is typically in the morning before leaving the lab.