MIDUS – Midlife in the United States

MIDUS Neuroscience Repository

MIDUS has a variety of neuroimaging and psychophysiological data for the Core and Refresher samples with accompanying behavioral data. This page explains which data are publicly available via the Colectica Portal and which are restricted access via the MIDUS Neuroscience Repository. Policy and guidelines for requesting access are here for the MIDUS Brain Imaging Data, the MIDUS 2 Electroencephalography (EEG) Data, as well as the psychophysiological individual trials and stimuli information used in the emotional response tasks. Below are details about available data and links to the request forms.

Facial electromyography (EMG) and accompanying behavioral data

  • Publicly Available – Summary eyeblink startle magnitude and electromyography of the corrugator supercilli muscle during the emotional response task are available for the MIDUS 2, 3, and Refresher 1 samples and for the zygomatic major muscle for the MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 samples. These data are publicly available through the MIDUS Colectica Portal. Refresher 2 summary measures will be made available on the Colectica Portal in 2027.
  • Restricted – Raw psychophysiological data including facial EMG are available for MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 and 2 waves via the restricted access Globus repository. Individual trial-by-trial processed data for eyeblink startle amplitude and magnitude and electromyography of the corrugator supercilli and zygomatic muscles during the emotional response task are available for MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 and 2 waves upon approval. Individual valence and arousal ratings for the images used in the psychophysiological emotional response task are also available upon approval, as are individual free recall memory for the images used in the psychophysiological emotional response task. Finally, raw facial EMG recorded during an Ambiguous Faces Task (e.g. Neta, Norris, & Whalen 2009) is also available.

Heart rate variability

  • Publicly Available – Heart rate variability summary metrics from resting heart rate measured both while sitting during the Neuroscience Project’s psychophysiology session as well as supine in the scanner during the neuroimaging session are available for the MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 samples via the MIDUS Colectica Portal. Refresher 2 summary measures will be made available on the Colectica Portal in 2027.
  • Restricted – Raw psychophysiological data including heart rate are available for MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 and 2 waves via the restricted access Globus repository.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

EEG data are available for individuals who completed the MIDUS 2 Neuroscience project.

  • Publicly Available – Asymmetry, individual peak alpha frequency, and power estimates are publicly available through the MIDUS Colectica Portal.
  • Restricted – Raw whole brain resting EEG data in BIDS format as well as comprehensive extracted estimates of the resting EEG at individual sites are available for the MIDUS 2 sample via the restricted access Globus repository.

Structural MRI

Structural data are available for individuals who completed the MIDUS 2, 3, or Refresher 1 or 2 Neuroscience project and participated in the MRI session.

  • Publicly Available – Freesurfer-based (https://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/) extracted values are publicly available through the MIDUS Colectica Portal for the MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 only at this time.
  • Restricted – Raw whole brain structural MRI data in BIDS format are available for the MIDUS 2, 3, or Refresher 1 or 2 samples via the restricted access Globus repository.

Task and resting state f​unctional MRI and accompanying behavioral and psychophysiological data

  • Restricted – Task functional MRI data of emotional responses are available for individuals who completed the MIDUS 2, 3, or Refresher 1 or 2 Neuroscience projects and participated in the MRI session. Individual valence and arousal ratings for the images used in the fMRI emotional response task are included. Resting state fMRI data are also available for participants who completed the MIDUS 3 or Refresher 1 or 2 Neuroscience MRI sessions. Psychophysiological data (skin conductance response, respiration, and pulse oximetry) are included with the MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 and 2 imaging data via the restricted access Globus repository.

Perfusion MRI (Arterial spin labeling)

  • Restricted – Raw whole brain resting perfusion MRI data are available through the restricted access Globus repository for individuals who completed the MIDUS 2, 3, or Refresher 1 Neuroscience projects and participated in the MRI session. Refresher 2 are coming soon.

Diffusion MRI

Diffusion MRI measures are available for individuals who completed the MIDUS 3 or Refresher 1 Neuroscience project and participated in the MRI session.

  • Publicly Available – Atlas-based extracted diffusion tensor imaging values are publicly available through the MIDUS Colectica Portal for the MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1.
  • Restricted – Raw whole brain diffusion MRI data in BIDS format are available for the MIDUS 3 or Refresher 1 sample via restricted access Globus repository. Refresher 2 are coming soon.

Brainage

  • Publicly Available – Brainage estimates computed with publicly available algorithms are available through the MIDUS Colectica Portal for the MIDUS 3 and Refresher 1 Neuroscience project. Refresher 2 brainage measures will be made available on the Colectica Portal in 2027.

Requesting Access

Researchers interested in requesting access to the MIDUS Brain Imaging, Psychophysiological, and/or accompanying Behavioral Data must complete the appropriate access request form:
MIDUS Brain Imaging Data Research Plan and Data Use Agreement, MIDUS 2 EEG Data Research Plan and Data Use Agreement, or MIDUS Psychophysiology Data Research Plan and Data use Agreement. The form must be filled out by the Primary Investigator and submitted using the researcher’s institutional email address along with a copy of their current CV to midus_brainimaging@aging.wisc.edu. Projects involving collaborators working at different institutions must submit a request form from each institution. Upon approval of the access request, specific instructions and login information to access the neuroscience dataset(s) will be sent to the user.

Documentation describing in detail what is currently publicly available via restricted access is described in detail here: