MRI Neurofeedback and Brain Circuits Related to Motivation in Healthy Participants

Part of paid clinical trials in Durham, North Carolina.

Sponsor
Duke University
Study ID
NCT05929898
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Memory
  • Motivation
  • Self-regulation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 45 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback — BEHAVIORAL
    fMRI neurofeedback training of sustained midbrain/VTA activation via motivational imagery.

Study Details

The purpose of this research study is to understand how healthy individuals self-regulate motivation by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 30, 2023
Status verified
May 2025
Primary completion
Sep 8, 2026
Completion
Sep 9, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
190 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Intentional Versus Cue-Evoked Midbrain Activation
    Participants meeting study inclusion will be scheduled for two sessions: one baseline behavioral visit and an fMRI session to assess the ability to self-stimulate VTA activation. Session one will include a battery of cognitive assessments and a demonstration of the reward-based learning task in session two. The experimental imaging task session will be done within one week of session one. Participants will been randomly split into two group: group one will complete a reward-based learning task before the VTA activation task and group two will complete reward task after VTA activation. During the VTA activation task, participants will be instructed to achieve a heightened state of motivation using personally relevant thoughts and imagery.
  • Experimental: Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Effort-Based Decision Making
    Participants will be randomly assigned to an MRI group or a behavioral control group. All participants will complete an effort-based learning task and a series of questionnaires in session one. Session two may include an MRI based on group assignment. Participants in the MRI group will complete the VTA activation task. Following, they will complete the effort task and questionnaires a second time. The behavioral control group will complete a second session consisting of the effort task and questionnaires.
  • Experimental: Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Motivated Memory
    Participants will take part in four sessions: visit 1-baseline + memory encoding, visit 2-memory retrieval, visit 3-memory encoding, visit 4-memory retrieval). Encoding and retrieval of the memoranda will occur 24 hours apart. Study visits will take place no more than 7 days apart. One group of participants will complete all sessions at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. The remainder of participants will complete the encoding sessions in the MRI machine, .

Primary Outcome Measure

Percent signal change in VTA BOLD activation [ Time Frame: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Center for Cognitive NeuroscienceDurhamNorth Carolina27708
R. Alison Adcock, MD, PhD
[email protected]
919-661-4601

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By research site
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience· Durham, NC

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