What is our goal? Shall I do my homework or watch a movie? We make many decisions everyday, weighing short term vs. long-term goals. In the Decision Neuroscience Lab we are studying the development of decision-making, by looking at changes in brain function and structure. Our goal is to better understand the brain processes involved in how we make everyday decisions and how that changes when we get older. Who can help us? We are looking for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18. Children must be native English speakers and in good health. Children will undergo comprehensive cognitive skills assessment. Following behavioral testing, children may be asked to take part in one MRI session, in which brain anatomy and functional properties will be measured. All testing and scanning will be conducted at Stanford University. What will my child gain from participating? Children will experience science in action! They will be compensated for their participation and will receive a picture of their own brain from the MRI scan. What will parents receive? Parents will receive the results of their children's behavioral assessment and will be briefed about the progress of the study. The current experiment will take about 1 to 2 hours and compensation is $20 per hour. What is fMRI? Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique. It does not involve any x-rays. fMRI allows us to determine what areas of the brain are working while a person is reading or thinking. A fMRI scan involves lying on a table, which goes into a large magnet. Children with permanent braces or metal in their body will not be able to participate. For information or to sign up for the study please see: or send an e-mail to