Imaging Brain Fluids During Breathing

Launched by BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS · Dec 16, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Imaging Brain Fluids During Breathing," is studying how breathing affects the flow of brain fluids and blood in healthy adults. Researchers will use a type of scan called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to see how these fluids move while participants breathe normally and when they undergo a specific kind of brain stimulation. The goal is to better understand how our breathing patterns might influence brain function.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be adults aged 18 to 70 years without any significant health issues, such as major head injuries or neurological disorders. Those with certain medical implants, heart problems, or who are pregnant cannot participate. If you join the study, you will undergo MRI scans while performing breathing tasks, and you may also take part in a stimulation procedure. It's important to note that participants should not weigh more than 250 pounds and must be comfortable in tight spaces, as MRIs can feel enclosed.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult age 18-70 years
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • No ferrous metal implanted in head or body
• • No history of major head trauma
• • No neurological or psychiatric disorder
• • Not using medication that affects brain function
• • No implanted electronic devices (e.g. pacemaker)
• • No implant that poses an MR contraindication
• • Not pregnant, suspect they are pregnant, or seeking to become pregnant
• • Not claustrophobic
• • No piercings or jewelry that cannot be removed
• • Does not weigh more than 250 pounds
• • Normal or contact-corrected normal vision
• Exclusion for transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) arm:
• • Conditions of skin or anatomy that affect left auricle or forehead skin and could impact placement of electrodes for tVNS or forehead stimulation
• • Diagnosis of significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease \[e.g. congestive heart failure, stroke, cardiac conduction disorders (including: bundle branch block, heart block, long Q-T syndrome), history of asystole or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia.
• • Bradycardia (defined as resting heart rate \<50 bpm)
• • Hypotension defined as blood pressure \<90/60 mmHg