MRI Neurofeedback and Brain Circuits Related to Motivation in Healthy Participants

Launched by DUKE UNIVERSITY · Jun 26, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how healthy individuals can improve their motivation by looking at their brain activity using a special imaging technique called MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Researchers want to see how people can learn to control their motivation and memory by observing their brain's responses. The study is currently recruiting participants aged 18 to 45 who are in good health, right-handed, and not taking any medications for mental health issues.

If you decide to participate, you will undergo MRI scans while engaging in tasks designed to measure motivation and self-regulation. It's important to note that certain health conditions, such as serious medical illnesses, neurological disorders, or past psychiatric diagnoses, may prevent you from joining the study. Participants should also be comfortable being in an MRI machine, which can feel confining. Overall, this research aims to better understand the brain's role in motivation, which could have implications for improving self-regulation in various settings.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age between 18 and 45 years
• • Male or female
• • Right-handed
• • In good general health
• • Women of childbearing capacity: use of effective method of birth control
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Current or diagnosis within past six months of an DSM-V Axis I or Axis II disorder (self-reported)
• • Current or past six month use of prescription medications indicated for psychiatric conditions (e.g.,depression, anxiety)
• • Current serious medical illness (self-reported)
• • Head injury resulting in loss of consciousness
• • For participants age \> 59 years, a total scaled score \< 8 on the Dementia Rating Scale-2.
• * A clinically-defined neurological disorder including, but not limited to:
• • Any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure
• • Space occupying brain lesion
• • History of stroke
• • Transient ischemic attack within two years
• • Cerebral aneurysm
• • Dementia
• • Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score of \<24
• • Parkinson's disease
• • Huntington's disease
• • Multiple sclerosis
• • Presence of cochlear implants or other implanted electronic devices or non-removable metal (e.g., non-removable piercing, IUD)
• • History of an eye injury involving metal. Participants who worked with metal may be allowed to participate on a case-by-case basis with prior written approval from BIAC.
• • Claustrophobia or unwillingness to tolerate the confinement associated with being in the MRI scanner.
• • Weight of more than 250 pounds