Neural and Physiological Responses to Real-World Experiences

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Gene Expression
• Interventions: Behavioral: Writing about people; Other: Writing about places, objects

• Registration Number: NCT01723410
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

Brief Summary

UCLA researchers looking for healthy individuals (aged 35-50) who have a home computer with internet access, are not pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding (if female), to participate in a study investigating whether real-world experiences alter the brain and body. This study takes place over an eight week period and involves providing the names of 8 close friends or family members, completing a neuroimaging session, providing blood and saliva (for genetic analysis), and a 6-week period in which participants login twice a week to complete online questionnaires. Compensation is up to $210 for those who complete all aspects of the study. Please email realworld.ucla@gmail.com for more information.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2012-11-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-11-05
• Study First Posted: 2012-11-07
• Study Start: 2013-01
• Primary Completion: 2015-01
• Study Completion: 2015-01
• Status Verified: 2015-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-12-10
• Last Update Posted: 2015-12-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy adults between the ages of 35-50

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Exclusion Criteria

Following a structured telephone interview, prospective participants with the following conditions will not be able to participate:

1. claustrophobia, left-handedness, or presence of metal in their body (for the neuroimaging procedures),
2. possible presence of a depressive disorder, which may interfere with the gratitude intervention (assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire; Spitzer et al., 1999),
3. regular use of medications that may impact inflammatory processes (anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, opioids),
4. current smokers or excessive caffeine users (> 600 mg/day) because of known effects on inflammation, and
5. pregnancy (which would affect oxytocin gene expression).

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Writing condition	Writing about people	Subjects will be asked to write about other individuals in their lives.
Writing	Writing about places, objects	Subjects will be asked to write about places or objects in their lives.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
inflammatory gene expression	baseline, six weeks post manipulation	Changes in inflammatory gene expression from pre- to post-intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
neural activity	baseline, six weeks post-intervention	Changes in neural activity from pre- to post-intervention.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UCLA CTRC & Brain Mapping Center; 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, United States