MRC Cambridge Brain Sciences Website Privacy Policy

The Cambridge Brain Sciences Website has been developed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) with funding from MRC Technology Development Gap Fund. The aim of the website is to communicate and support the science funded by the MRC at the MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit, Cambridge. Please read the follow to understand more about our aims and your use of the site.

1. What is the Cambridge Brain Sciences website?
2. Who developed the Cambridge Brain Sciences website?
3. Why do you ask for personal information?
4. How will personal information be used?
5. Do I have to submit any personal information?
6. What happens to my details?
7. What happens to my test results?
8. Cookies
9. Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act

1. What is the Cambridge Brain Sciences Website?

The Cambridge Brain Sciences Website is a source for the public to learn and understand more about how the brain works; neuroscience, cognition and cognitive testing, and partake in some of the tests developed by MRC scientists. The Website is a free resource for tests and information.

2. Who developed the Cambridge Brain Sciences website?

The Website was developed by scientists employed by the MRC, and funded by MRC Technology’s Development Gap Fund. The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded organisation which supports the best scientific research to improve human health. Its work ranges from molecular level science to public health medicine and has led to pioneering discoveries in our understanding of the human body and the diseases which affect us all. MRC Technology is the exclusive commercialisation agent for the MRC, working to translate cutting edge scientific discoveries into commercial or publicly available products. MRCT bridges the gap between innovative basic science and making the ground-breaking discoveries from that science available to the public.

3. Why do you ask for personal information?

Personal information is requested when you register on the site. We may ask for the following:

• Name/Nickname
• Email address
• Gender
• City/Town and Country

We also may ask for the following optional information:

• Date of birth
• Level of education
• Whether you smoke
• Occupation
• Alcohol consumption
• Health overview
• Handedness

The aim of the website is also to collect information from the users of the tests to better understand the how results from the different tests of memory, reasoning, concentration and planning might vary in the population at large, and whether they may be affected by factors such as alcohol consumption or occupation. Therefore, by partaking in the tests and sharing your results, you will assist the MRC’s world-class research into neuroscience and cognition.

4. How will personal information be used?

The personal information we collect will be used for internal research at the MRC, and to help us better understand and serve our users. All data is analysed anonymously. Any personal data that might identify the user will be kept confidential and not shared with any third party. Your email will be stored securely and you will not be contacted by another party. We may periodically contact you regarding developments to the website.

5. Do I have to submit any personal information?

If you do not wish to make optional personal information available for use in our research, you do not have to complete those sections. If you supply personal information and later wish for it to be removed, please contact us at info@cambridgebrainsciences.com

6. What happens to my details?

Your details will be stored securely. Unfortunately, no transmission of data over the internet can be guaranteed secure. Therefore, we do not warrant and cannot ensure the security of any information which you transmit to us. Accordingly, any information which you transmit to us is transmitted at your own risk. Some of the personal data may be used in scientific investigations by the MRC. All information will be reviewed and described in aggregate. No personally identifiable information will be included in these investigations.

7. What happens to my test results?

Your test results will be stored securely with your details to help us tailor and improve our services to you. Your results may also be used with your personal information to help us in our research, which may include presenting the results in scientific journals, posters and other forms of media. All data will be reviewed and described in aggregate with all users. No personally identifiable information will be included in these presentations. For example, results may be presented to indicate that the average score of a 27-year-old left-handed user for an attention test is 53, but that right-handed users score 52.

8. Cookies

A cookie is a small text file which is automatically issued to your computer when you visit a website. Cookies are used to identify you as a visitor and are generally used to help track users and personalise your experience. To ensure privacy websites can only read cookies they issue, not those from other websites. You can also turn off cookies if you don't wish to use them at all.

We use cookies to help you login to our site and play additional tests. We also work with third-party companies to help track the usage of our website. Cookies are used to help identify the number of visitors to our site, but in an anonymous way. No personalised data is transferred to any third-party via cookies.

If you don't want to use cookies you can disable these in your web browser, however by doing so you won't be able to login to our site and play all the tests. To disable cookies in your browser please take a look at www.aboutcookies.org

9. Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act

You are entitled to see what information we hold on you relating to this Website under the Data Protection Act 1998. A small fee may be payable for this service. If you would like a copy of the information held under your account, please contact us at info@cambridgebrainsciences.com

External websites

Please note that this Website contains links to other websites of interest. You should look for the new privacy policies of these websites where applicable.