Testing the Contribution of Orbitofrontal Cortex Networks to Decision-making

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Healthy

• 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

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northwestern University; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States