Using EEG and computational models to better understand compulsivity in OCD
Official title: Dissecting Neurocognitive Components of Compulsivity Using Computational Modeling and EEG
Run by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NCT07011901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether combining EEG recordings with computational cognitive models can reveal distinct brain and behavior patterns in adults with OCD compared to adults without OCD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 9, 2025 |
| Main results expected | March 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | March 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | November 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07011901 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are English-speaking, right-handed adults aged 18–55 with a current OCD diagnosis who can provide consent and meet medication and behavioral treatment washout criteria.
✕Probably not a fit
People with recent psychiatric medication or behavioral treatment for OCD, certain comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, non–English speakers, left-handed individuals, minors, or those unable to attend in-person visits at the study site are unlikely to qualify and may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This research will enroll 100 participants—50 adults diagnosed with OCD and 50 healthy controls—and collect behavioral, clinical, and EEG data during cognitive tasks. Investigators will apply theory-driven computational models to link task behavior and EEG signals to multiple neurocognitive subcomponents of compulsivity beyond the simple habit versus goal-directed framework. The protocol includes exposure and response prevention components alongside neurophysiological recording to connect treatment-relevant processes with neural markers. The goal is to identify neurocognitive profiles that could ultimately support more personalized treatment approaches for people with OCD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify markers that help match people with OCD to treatments that are most likely to work for their specific brain–behavior profile.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using EEG and computational modeling has shown promising findings in OCD and related compulsivity research, but combining these methods to define clinically useful subtypes is still relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Participants must be: * between the ages 18-55 years old * English-speaking * right-handed * able to provide consent Exclusion Criteria: Individuals diagnosed with OCD will be excluded if: * they meet diagnostic criteria for certain other psychiatric disorders * are taking psychiatric medication or have received behavioral treatment for OCD within a certain timeframe * if it is unsafe for them to participate in research Healthy control participants will be excluded if: * they have a current psychiatric disorder * a lifetime history of certain psychiatric disorders * are taking psychiatric medication or have in the past * have a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with OCD * if it is unsafe for them to participate in research
Where it's running
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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Amy Rapp, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Amy Rapp, Ph.D.
- Email: OCDResearch@mssm.edu
- Phone: 212-241-5288
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.