This $400,000 NIH research study sought to better understand the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on brain function and behavior, focusing on its potential to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The study involved 60 participants and required multiple, time-intensive visits to gather sufficient data on brain activity during specific tasks.

As the lead project manager and experiment designer, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project, including improving the usability of a computer-based task participants needed to complete. This task was crucial in identifying active brain regions for later TMS sessions, but the original task design was confusing, leading to high dropout rates as participants struggled to understand and complete the task.

To address these issues, I used qualitative research methods such as interviews and focus groups to pinpoint pain points and usability barriers. Based on this feedback, I redesigned the task to make it more intuitive and accessible, resulting in significantly improved participant retention and task completion. These improvements allowed the study to proceed as planned, ultimately leading to clearer insights into how TMS influences brain activity.