Anesthesia & Memory MRI Research Study

Healthy native English-speaking adults, age 18-39, are being recruited to better determine the effect that anesthetic agents have on memory formation. 


You may eligible if you… 
- are not pregnant or attempting to conceive 
- have a body mass index (BMI) < 35 
- do not have significant memory impairment or hearing loss 
- do not have sleep apnea 
- do not have chronic pain or other pain processing disorder 
- do not have neurologic or psychiatric disease, including benign tremor, anxiety, and depression  
- do not have diabetes
- do not have significant cardiac disease or hypertension   
- do not have significant pulmonary disease 
- are not claustrophobic 
- have no metal implants, and no non-removable metal piercings 
- have no history of adverse reaction to anesthetics
- have no history of illicit substance abuse
- are not taking: antiepileptics, antidepressants, anti-psychotics, antihistamines, anti-anxiety medication, stimulants, sleep-aids, or pain medication     

Interested subjects must complete a brief visit to undergo memory testing.  If your memory performance is above the entry cutoff, you may be enrolled in the study.  This involves several visits, including during weekday working hours.  Subjects will receive low doses of one or more intravenous anesthetics, while performing memory tasks and experiencing periodic electric shock.  Some subjects will complete this study while their brain is imaged in an MRI scanner.  Subjects may be paid up to $500 for completing all study visits.   

For more detailed information, please email: Anesthesiology.Research@pitt.edu   

Postdoctoral Research Positions

A postdoctoral position is available for a highly motivated individual to join a growing effort to study the neuroscience of anesthetic effects on cognition and pain relief using functional neuroimaging and complimentary techniques.  The position is within the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, under the direction of Keith Vogt, MD, PhD.  The NIH-funded research program is cross-disciplinary, with collaborators in the Departments of Bioengineering, Medicine (Division of Geriatrics), Psychiatry, and Psychology. The appointment is intended to be two years and may be extendable.  The candidate will be encouraged and supported to apply for their own mentored research training grants prior to the end of the postdoctoral fellowship.  The ideal candidate would have completed a residency in anesthesiology and be committed to pursuing an independent research career relevant to anesthesiology and perioperative medicine.  

Requirements: Applicants must have an MD, DO, PhD (or comparable medical/graduate degree) in a relevant field and be eligible for appointment to an NIH-funded training grant. Candidates must be comfortable with data analysis and basic statistics and have excellent oral and written communication skills. Training would include involvement in and oversight of a variety of clinical and volunteer human subject research projects focused on the effects of anesthesia on cognition.  

More Information Apply Here