Understanding how fatigue affects effort perception in decision-making

Behavioral and Neural Representations of Subjective Effort Cost

NA · Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. · NCT04041154

This study is trying to see how feeling tired affects how people judge the effort needed for tasks, especially to help understand motivation in mental health issues.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment185 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 35 Years
SexAll
SponsorHugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. (other)
Locations1 site (Baltimore, Maryland)
Trial IDNCT04041154 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to explore the behavioral and neural mechanisms behind how individuals perceive the effort required for tasks, particularly in the context of fatigue and motivation. By using a combination of experiments with healthy participants, computational modeling, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the research will identify the brain regions involved in valuing physical and cognitive effort. The study seeks to uncover both common and distinct neural circuits that represent effort valuation, which could provide insights into motivated performance in mental disorders.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are right-handed individuals aged 18 to 35, regardless of ethnicity.

Not a fit: Patients with neurological issues, severe psychiatric diseases, or those who are pregnant may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of motivation and effort perception, potentially leading to better interventions for individuals with fatigue-related conditions.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of this study may be novel, related research has indicated the importance of understanding effort valuation in mental health contexts.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Right-handed
* Age between 18 and 35 years old - Male or female
* Any ethnicity

Exclusion Criteria:

Individuals with a history of any of the following will be excluded from the study:

* Neurological problems such as stroke, head injury, epilepsy, seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, Parkinson's Disease (self- report)
* Diagnosed history of severe psychiatric disease such as depression, schizophrenia (self-report)
* Metal in the head or eyes
* If they are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant
* If they experience discomfort from the MRI scan, such as severe claustrophobia or excessive heating of tattoos

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Fatigue

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.