How hippocampus and frontoparietal brain regions develop to support memory and reasoning
Hippocampal and Frontoparietal Mechanisms of Knowledge Acquisition and Inference
NA · University of Texas at Austin · NCT07199907
We will test whether changes in the hippocampus and frontoparietal regions in healthy adolescents and young adults change how they form, link, and retrieve memories using learning tasks during fMRI scans.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 142 (estimated) |
| Ages | 13 Years to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Texas at Austin (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Austin, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT07199907 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This serial cohort study uses associative and probabilistic inference tasks performed during fMRI to examine how hippocampal, ventromedial prefrontal, and parietal cortical representations change with age. Adolescents (13–18 years) are scanned at three timepoints spaced 1.5 years apart, and adults (19–25 years) are scanned once to provide a reference. The study combines behavioral measures of associative and probabilistic inference with neuroimaging of retrieval and encoding processes to test whether memory representations become more integrated and hierarchically organized across development. Connectivity and representational analyses will probe shifts from simple episodic encoding to richer cross-episode linking supported by frontoparietal networks.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy, right-handed adolescents aged 13–18 (for longitudinal visits) and adults aged 19–25 who are native or fluent English speakers with normal vision and hearing and no history of neurologic or psychiatric disorders and who are eligible for MRI scanning.
Not a fit: People with neurological or major medical illnesses, psychiatric disorders or prior hospitalizations, significant cognitive impairment, non-native English speakers, or those with MRI contraindications would be ineligible and unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify how memory and reasoning mature and help guide future approaches to support learning or treat developmental memory problems.
How similar studies have performed: Prior behavioral and imaging work has shown developmental changes in hippocampal and prefrontal networks related to memory and inference, but longitudinal tests of representational shifts across adolescence are relatively uncommon.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Right-handed * Have normal or corrected to normal vision * Have normal hearing * Do not have contraindications for MRI * Have no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders at initial intake * Are of normal intelligence * Native or fluent English speaker Exclusion Criteria: * A major medical illness or a neurological disorder, or neurological abnormality including significant head trauma (loss of consciousness \> 5 min). * Meeting criteria for any psychiatric disorder or any prior psychiatric hospitalizations * Intelligence scores more than 1 standard deviation below the mean on the WASI-II * History of special education placement * Non-native English speaker * Prior use of psychotropic medication, except antidepressants, for longer than 1 month * History of moderate to severe cannabis use disorder, via self-report * MRI exclusions: Claustrophobia; tattoos above the shoulders; permanent eyeliner; permanent retainer or spacer; artificial eyebrows; cardiac pacemaker; metal fragments in eye, skin, or body, including shrapnel; heart valve replacement; brain clips; venous umbrella; being a sheet-metal worker or welder; lifetime history of aneurysm surgery; intracranial bypass, renal, or aortic clips; prosthetic devices such as middle ear, eye, joint, or penile implants; joint replacements; non-removable hearing aid, neurostimulator, or insulin pump; shunts/stents; metal mesh/coil implants; metal plate/pin/screws/wires; or any other metal implants; or suspected pregnancy.
Where this trial is running
Austin, Texas
- The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alison R Preston, PhD
- Email: apreston@utexas.edu
- Phone: 512-475-7255
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Healthy, Hippocampus, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Parietal Cortex, Memory, Reasoning, Inference, Adolescence