LPFC Organization in Emotion-Duration Difference Estimation

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA · Feb 16, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating how certain areas of the brain help us understand emotions and the timing of those emotions in our daily lives. Specifically, researchers want to see how our brains track the length of time we feel positive or negative emotions and how this affects our actions afterward. Healthy volunteers will view sequences of emotional images while undergoing brain scans (fMRI) to see how different brain regions respond to this emotional and timing information. Some participants may also receive a non-invasive procedure called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to explore how these brain areas contribute to decision-making based on emotions.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be right-handed, between the ages of 18 and 45, and fluent in English. They should have normal or corrected-to-normal vision. However, individuals with certain psychiatric or neurological conditions, a history of seizures, or specific medical implants will not be able to participate. Those who join can expect to watch emotional images and have their brain activity monitored while researchers seek to better understand how our brains process emotions and time to help guide our actions in everyday life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • right-handed
• • between the ages of 18 and 45
• • be a fluent English speaker
• • have normal to corrected-to-normal vision.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • if they report a current or prior diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization and/or are currently using psychiatric medication; o If they report a history of or current neurological disease (i.e., stroke, concussion, epilepsy, major head trauma, complicated migraine);
• • If they ever had a seizure;
• • If they have a family history of epilepsy or seizure disorders;
• • If they have a history of fainting;
• • If they are sleep deprived (TMS only);
• • If they have a history of prior surgery with metal clips, implants, devices, prosthetics, cardiac or neural implants (e.g., pacemaker; neurostimulator), or cochlear implants;
• • If they are unable to safely and comfortably complete an MRI: have metal in the body, recent surgery, presence of surgically implanted devices not cleared for MRI, extreme claustrophobia, if they report tattoos of the head or neck region, non-removable metal piercing anywhere on the body
• • Women will be asked to self-report their pregnancy status and have the option to take a pregnancy test if they wish. If there is a chance a participant is pregnant, they will not be scanned.
• • As part of the newly adopted UCSB BIC prescreening procedure, participants will be asked about their history of hearing issues (including loss, hyperacuity, sensitivity to loud noises, history of tinnitus (ringing in ears), job with high noise exposure, and chronic migraines. Participants will be excluded if one or more hearing issues are reported.