Testing the Contribution of Orbitofrontal Cortex Networks to Decision-making

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Device: Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before conditioning; Device: Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before devaluation test; Device: Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

• Registration Number: NCT05111223
• Lead Sponsor: Northwestern University

Brief Summary

This research study examines the contribution of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) networks to decision-making.

Detailed Description

This study will combine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), olfactory stimuli, and a devaluation task to define the specific contributions of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) networks in outcome-guided behavior. We will use network-targeted TMS to modulate activity within anterior OFC and posterior OFC networks, examining if they have different contributions to decision-making. This is a randomized, between-subjects design.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-10-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-10-28
• Study First Posted: 2021-11-08
• Study Start: 2022-07-12
• Status Verified: 2024-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-08-16
• Last Update Posted: 2024-08-19
• Primary Completion: 2026-08-31
• Study Completion: 2026-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 18 and 40 years old
• Right-handed
• Fluent English speakers

Exclusion Criteria

• 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, substance use disorder, 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
• History of eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, etc.)
• Dieting or fasting
• 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.)
• Use of medications that increase the likelihood of seizures (e.g., bupropion SR, citalopram, duloxetine, ketamine, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, etc.)
• History of surgical procedures performed on the brain or spinal cord
• History of severe head trauma followed by loss of consciousness
• History of fainting spells or syncope
• Hearing problems or tinnitus

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
TMS targeting OFC anterior networks	Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before conditioning	Participants will receive TMS and sham targeting the OFC network.
TMS targeting OFC anterior networks	Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before devaluation test	Participants will receive TMS and sham targeting the OFC network.
Experimental: TMS targeting posterior OFC networks	Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before devaluation test	Participants will receive TMS and sham targeting the posterior OFC network.
TMS targeting OFC anterior networks	Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)	Participants will receive TMS and sham targeting the OFC network.
Experimental: TMS targeting posterior OFC networks	Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before conditioning	Participants will receive TMS and sham targeting the posterior OFC network.
Experimental: TMS targeting posterior OFC networks	Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)	Participants will receive TMS and sham targeting the posterior OFC network.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging	1 hour after intervention	Resting-state activity determined by functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Behavior on devaluation task	1 hour after intervention	Percentage of cues predicting non-devalued vs devalued odors chosen during the devaluation task.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northwestern University; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States