Effort Valuation for Fatigue

Overseen By Anthony Gonzalez

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

Disqualifiers: Neurological problems, Psychiatric disease, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

185 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this proposal is to understand the common and distinct behavioral and neural representations of subjective effort valuation, and how these representations are influenced by fatigue and changes in motivation. It is hypothesized that the brain will use overlapping and distinct neural circuits to represent cognitive and physical effort value, and that fatigue and enhanced motivation will influence the subjective value of effort.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Vikram S. Chib, PhD

Principal Investigator

Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for right-handed individuals aged between 18 and 35, of any gender or ethnicity. It's not suitable for those who are pregnant, have metal in their head/eyes, neurological issues like stroke or epilepsy, severe claustrophobia during MRI scans, excessive tattoo heating from MRIs, or a history of severe psychiatric conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

You use your right hand more often than your left hand.

People of any race can participate.

Exclusion Criteria

If they are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant

You have metal in your head or eyes.

You have experienced neurological problems in the past such as stroke, head injury, epilepsy, seizures, brain tumors, brain surgery, or Parkinson's Disease.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Cognitive Fatigue Induction

Participants perform a cognitively demanding task repeatedly to induce cognitive fatigue

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Physical Fatigue Induction

Participants perform a physically demanding task (grip force exertion task) repeatedly to induce physical fatigue

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Motivational State Modulation

Participants' motivational state is modulated using reward-associated stimuli to study effort choices

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after interventions

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cognitive Fatigue
• Physical Fatigue
• Rewarding Stimuli

Trial Overview The study aims to understand how the brain values effort when tired or motivated. Participants will undergo tests related to cognitive and physical fatigue as well as exposure to rewarding stimuli while their brain activity is monitored.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Rewarding Stimuli Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

We will use a behavioral intervention. Reward-associated stimuli will be used to study how reward-induced changes in motivational state influence effort choices.

Group II: Physical Fatigue Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

We will use a behavioral intervention. Participants will perform a physically demanding task (grip force exertion task), repeatedly, to induce cognitive fatigue.

Group III: Cognitive Fatigue Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

We will use a behavioral intervention. Participants will perform a cognitively demanding task, repeatedly, to induce cognitive fatigue.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

93

Recruited

25,200+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+