Investigating how attention affects inhibition mechanisms in the brain

Attention Modulation of Local and Global Inhibition Mechanisms

This study is trying to see how attention affects the brain's ability to control actions in both healthy people and those with certain neurological conditions.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Ages: 8 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Bron)
• Trial ID: NCT04279158 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study explores the relationship between attention and inhibition mechanisms in human behavior, particularly in the context of optical phenomena. Participants will engage in tasks designed to assess their inhibitory control and attentional processes, including the negative priming task, stop signal task, and anti-saccades. The goal is to better understand how attention modulates inhibition and the underlying brain structures involved. The study includes both healthy volunteers and patients with specific neurological conditions, such as hemispatial neglect and optic ataxia.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 to 75 with normal or corrected vision, as well as patients with hemispatial neglect or optic ataxia following a stroke.

Not a fit: Patients with significant neurological, psychiatric, sensory, or motor troubles that prevent compliance with study requirements may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of attention and inhibition, potentially leading to improved interventions for conditions like ADHD.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated a connection between attention and inhibition, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights, although the specific methodology here is less commonly tested.

Eligibility criteria

All patients and healthy subjects:

Inclusion Criteria:

* male and female, age from 18 to 75 years included
* normal vision or corrected vision
* covered by social security
* signed written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* unable to comply with requirements of the study (neurological, psychiatric, sensory or motor troubles)
* adults under legal protection

Patient with hemispatial neglect:

Inclusion Criteria:

* After a stroke (\> 1 month ago), presence of a neurological impairment documented by brain imaging (standard of care) and by clinical symptoms.
* The diagnosis will be dissociated from hemianopia by perimetry. The hemispatial neglect consists of a lack of perception and responsiveness concerning the controlesional visual hemifield.

Patient with optic ataxia:

* After a stroke (\> 1 month ago), presence of neurological injury in parietal cortex only, supported by a standard of care cerebral MRI
* Present optic ataxia symptoms (The OA consists of pointing errors with the hand contralateral to the lesion (hand effect) and / or to visual targets presented in the field contralateral to the lesion (field effect)).

Patient (adult and children) with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:

* present a diagnosis of ADHD subtype inattention or impulse / hyperactivity as established by a neuropsychologist.
* Children will be between 8 and 18 years old
* Adults will be between 18 and 75 years old.
* Participants will not report any comorbid learning disabilities to ADHD.

For minors:

\- Having obtained the written consent of the legal representative(s)

Healthy subjects

Inclusion Criteria:

\- no known neurological injury

Where this trial is running

Bron

• Centre de Recherche en Neuroscience de Lyon — Bron, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Laure PISELLA — Centre de recherche de Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL)
• Study coordinator: Laure PISELLA, PhD

Conditions Optical Phenomena; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; attention; inhibition; Healthy Volunteers; Perceptual Disorders