Emotion Study -- A Neurofeedback Approach

NCT02194907 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB201300814 closed
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 19
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will determine whether brain activity can be modified and improves performance on a task by showing participants live 'video feed' of their brains on advanced imaging technology. The study is particularly interested in brain regions that have been shown to be relevant for emotions, specifically the anterior insula and the medial prefrontal cortex. Advanced technology will map the brain using magnetic pulses with a real-time functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rt-fMRI) machine.

Conditions

Aging; Emotion

Keywords

Emotional Aging; Neurofeedback

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Increased activation of anterior insula from pre-training to post-training

  Both young and older participants can be trained in up-regulation of anterior insula activity, by means of contingent neurofeedback (rt-fMRI), reflecting continued plasticity of brain regions associated with affective processing.

  Pre-training session (baseline visit); post-training session (approximately one week later)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Gained volitional control over activity in anterior insula improves emotion perception from pre-training to post-training

  Pre-training (baseline visit); post-training visit (approximately one week later)

Study Arms (2)

Anterior insula cortex activation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the front of the brain, while thinking of and viewing emotional faces, scenes, and text.

Behavioral: Brain activity training - anterior insula

Primary auditory cortex activation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will have training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the back of the brain while thinking of and viewing emotional faces, scenes, and text.

Behavioral: Brain activity training - medial prefrontal cortex

Interventions

Brain activity training - anterior insula BEHAVIORAL

training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the front of the brain

Anterior insula cortex activation

Brain activity training - medial prefrontal cortex BEHAVIORAL

training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the back of the brain

Primary auditory cortex activation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 90 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Between the ages of 18-30 years or 63-90 years
• Right-handed
• Native English speaker

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant or possibly pregnant
• Claustrophobia
• Large pieces of metal in the body, particularly in the face and neck.
• Piercings or metal implants that cannot be removed from the body
• Surgery on the brain or any prior serious brain damage or disease
• Dementia or severe cognitive disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Florida: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, 32611-2250, United States

Location

Related Links

• Real-Time fMRI in Neuroscience Research and Its Use in Studying the Aging Brain

Study Officials

• Natalie Ebner, PhD

  University of Florida, Department of Psychology

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 10, 2014
• First Posted: July 18, 2014
• Study Start: October 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: January 8, 2020
• Study Completion: January 8, 2020
• Last Updated: January 22, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-01

Locations

US (1)