Understanding how the brain reacts to frustration in healthy adults
Characterizing the Brain Circuitry and Neural Activity Mediating Frustration
This study is trying to see how the brains of healthy adults react to frustration by using special tasks and brain imaging techniques.
Quick facts
| Phase | Early Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) NIH |
| Locations | 2 sites (Bethesda, Maryland and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06484088 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the brain mechanisms underlying frustration by using a frustration induction task, magnetoencephalography (MEG), and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in healthy adults aged 18 to 55. Participants will undergo up to three visits over two months, where they will be screened, complete questionnaires, and participate in tasks designed to induce frustration. The study aims to measure changes in neural activities and identify brain circuits associated with emotional and behavioral responses to frustration.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adults aged 18 to 55 who have been screened and deemed eligible through prior NIH protocols.
Not a fit: Patients with serious medical conditions or those taking psychoactive medications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for irritability and related mental health disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel in its specific focus on frustration mechanisms, similar studies using neuroimaging techniques have shown promise in understanding emotional responses.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
-INCLUSION CRITERIA:
This study will include adult healthy volunteers.
* Age: 18-55
* Consent: can give consent
* Speak and read English
--The instruments have not been validated in other languages.
* At the NIH site, previously screened through other NIH protocols such as protocol 01-M-0254, 17-M-0181, and 93-M-0170 and determined eligible as healthy volunteers.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this
study:
-Any serious medical condition
* History, physical exam, or laboratory testing including drug abuse screen.
-Prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements with psychoactive properties (e.g., St. John's Wort, Melatonin, Valerian)
-Any condition that interferes with MRI or MEG\*\*
* History
-Any current psychiatric diagnosis
* SCID-V, clinical assessment, or history.
-Pregnancy
* Pregnancy testing will be done before all MRIs.
-People who work on night shifts
* History
-Drug use
* Subjects with drug use or positive drug screen more than two years ago are eligible for participation.
-Need to wear eye glasses to work with computers\*
* History
-Need to wear contact lenses to work with computers\*\*,\*\*\*
* History
-Dental retainer\*\*
* Subjects wearing removable dental retainers are eligible for participation
* Eye glasses create artifacts in MEG and their rigid shape does not fit well in the MEG scanner. The MEG core has plastic optometry lenses that can be placed in paper frames. However, the paper frames need to be secured with tape which makes wearing them very uncomfortable, potentially promoting negative emotion and reducing the reliability of facial expression analysis.
* Only applies to the NIH site.
* Contact lenses create artifacts that interfere with eye-tracking.
Where this trial is running
Bethesda, Maryland and 1 other locations
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
- Texas A&M University — College Station, Texas, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Zheng Li, Ph.D. — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study coordinator: Zheng Li, Ph.D.
- Email: lizheng2@mail.nih.gov
- Phone: (301) 594-2269
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.