MRI Neurofeedback and Brain Circuits Related to Motivation in Healthy Participants

NCT05929898 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: Pro001126721R01MH131667-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 190
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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

Conditions

Motivation; Memory; Self-regulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Percent signal change in VTA BOLD activation

  During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in effort-based decision making, as measured by the Effort Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT)

  During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours

• Change in motivated memory, as measured by the Monetary Incentive Encoding task (MIE)

  During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours

Study Arms (3)

Intentional Versus Cue-Evoked Midbrain Activation

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback

Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Effort-Based Decision Making

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback

Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Motivated Memory

EXPERIMENTAL

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, .

Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback

Interventions

Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback BEHAVIORAL

fMRI neurofeedback training of sustained midbrain/VTA activation via motivational imagery.

Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Effort-Based Decision Making; Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Motivated Memory; Intentional Versus Cue-Evoked Midbrain Activation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• Current or diagnosis within past six months of an DSM-V Axis I or Axis II disorder (self-reported)
• CES-D score of 20 or higher (indicating significant current depression symptoms)
• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duke University: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Center for Cognitive Neuroscience

Durham, North Carolina, 27708, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Self-Control

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Social Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• R. Alison Adock, MD, PhD

  Duke University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Laura Yost

CONTACT

919-681-4601; laura.yost@duke.edu

R. Alison Adock, MD, PhD

CONTACT

919-681-4601; alison.adcock@duke.edu

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: June 26, 2023
• First Posted: July 3, 2023
• Study Start: July 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 8, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 9, 2026
• Last Updated: August 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)