Testing the Contribution of Orbitofrontal Cortex Networks to Reward Identity Learning

NCT04926961 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: STU00214694
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research study examines the contribution of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) networks to learning reward identity expectations.

Conditions

Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Percentage of correct outcome predictions

  Percentage of correct outcome predictions in response to predictive cues during the reversal learning task.

  1 hour

• Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses

  Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during the reversal learning task.

  1 hour

Study Arms (2)

Sham stimulation first, then real stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will first be delivered sham TMS stimulation. Then on a separate day, participants will be delivered real TMS stimulation.

Device: Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS); Device: Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Real stimulation first, then sham stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will first be delivered real TMS stimulation. Then on a separate day, participants will be delivered sham TMS stimulation.

Device: Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS); Device: Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Interventions

Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) DEVICE

Sham TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the placebo side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Real stimulation first, then sham stimulation; Sham stimulation first, then real stimulation

Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) DEVICE

Real TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the active side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Real stimulation first, then sham stimulation; Sham stimulation first, then real stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 50 years old
• Right-handed
• Fluent English speakers

You may not qualify if:

• History of significant neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, dementia, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, etc.)
• History of major psychiatric conditions (e.g., general anxiety disorder, depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, alcoholism, etc.)
• Significant medical illnesses (e.g., cancer, meningitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
• Significant cerebrovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, etc.)
• Current use of psychoactive medications (e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines, chloral hydrate, haloperidol, lithium, carbamazepine, phenytoin, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, diazepam, etc.)
• Smell or taste dysfunction
• History of significant allergies requiring hospitalization for treatment
• History of severe asthma requiring hospitalization for treatment
• Habitual smoking
• Magnetic implants (e.g., shunts or stents, aneurysm clips, surgical clips, cochlear implants, metal bone/joint pins, plates and screws, eyelid spring or wires, etc.)
• Electronic devices (e.g., implanted cardiac defibrillator, cardiac pacemaker, deep brain/spinal cord or nerve stimulator, internal electrodes/wires, medication infusion devices, etc.)
• History of metal working without proper eye protection, or injury with metal shrapnel or metal slivers
• Claustrophobia
• Pregnancy
• Predisposition to seizures (e.g., personal history of seizures, family history of seizures epilepsy, pregnancy, alcoholism, etc.)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northwestern University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Christina Zelano, PhD

  Northwestern University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Participants receive both sham TMS stimulation and real TMS stimulation in different sessions.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2021
• First Posted: June 15, 2021
• Study Start: June 16, 2021
• Primary Completion: November 3, 2021
• Study Completion: November 3, 2021
• Last Updated: June 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Upon publication
• Access Criteria: Data can be obtained from PI for non-profit purposes upon reasonable request.

Locations

US (1)