Brain Metabolism of Sensory Signals in Healthy Subjects

Overseen By Christin Y Sander, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Must not be taking: Neurological, psychiatric medications

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disorders, Diabetes, Glaucoma, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The investigators will be studying brain glucose and oxygen metabolism using hybrid PET/fMRI imaging to better understand how decoupling between brain glucose and oxygen metabolism relates to the processing of unpredictable sensory signals.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Christin Y Sander, PhD

Principal Investigator

Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for right-handed, English-speaking adults aged 21-35 with no MRI or PET scan contraindications. Excluded are those with kidney/liver issues, severe past COVID-19, major head trauma, certain chronic conditions, smokers, BMI over 35, and those who can't consent or lie still in a scanner.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 21 and 35 years old.

No contraindications to MRI or PET scanning

Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria

I have a tumor in my brain.

Body mass index above 35

I cannot stay still during scans.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Imaging and Behavioral Intervention

Participants undergo hybrid PET/fMRI imaging and complete a behavioral intervention with predictable and unpredictable stimuli

2 sessions

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after imaging and intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• (Un)predictable and (un)attended stimuli

Trial Overview The study uses hybrid PET/fMRI imaging to observe how the brain's glucose and oxygen metabolism responds to unpredictable sensory signals. It aims to understand the metabolic processes during such cognitive tasks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Behavioral intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects are presented with a simultaneous sequence of faces and spoken words. Face stimuli include a representative sample of realistic faces across a range of ages. Spoken word stimuli are simple nouns spoken by a single female speaker.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+