Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 11:26 AM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:08 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00047866
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2017-07-02
First Post:
2002-10-22
Brief Title:
Brain Function in Response to Motivational Stimuli
Sponsor:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA
Organization:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center CC
Study Overview
Official Title:
Brain Activation in Response to Motivational and Affective Stimuli Pharmacological Manipulations
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2010-06-25
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
This study seeks more information about the biology of substance dependency by exploring the brain areas involved in feeling positive and negative emotions Specifically it will determine whether a brain chemical called dopamine affects activity in certain brain regions during performance of a game that involves winning and losing money Brain activity will be examined using magnetic resonance imaging MRI a test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of brain structure and function
Young to middle-aged healthy adults may participate in this study Candidates will be screened with a medical history physical examination electrocardiogram EKG psychiatric interview and blood and urine tests Participants will be assigned to one of the two study procedures as follows
TyrosinePhenylalanine
This study requires two overnight stays at the NIH Clinical Center For each stay subjects are admitted to the hospital the afternoon before the MRI scan From the time of admission until after the scan their diets are restricted to food relatively low in amino acids prepared by NIH dietitians The next day participants undergo MRI scanning For this procedure the subject lies on a table that is moved into the scanner a metal cylindrical machine Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises that occur with electrical switching of the radio frequency circuits Imaging of brain structure takes about 10 to 15 minutes Additional scans are then taken to measure brain activity while the subject plays simple computer games for money These scans take about another 20 to 45 minutes Five hours before the MRI the subject drinks one of two beverages containing amino acids A different beverage is given for each of the two visits one drink lacks the essential amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine from which the body makes dopamine the other contains balanced amounts of these two amino acids Finally subjects fill out mood-rating questionnaires before and after drinking each of the beverages
Dextroamphetamine
This study requires two outpatient visits to the NIH Clinical Center For one visit participants are given an injection of 02 mgkg body weight of the drug dextroamphetamine for the other they are given an injection of saline salt water After each injection they undergo MRI scanning while playing computer games for money as described above They will fill out mood-rating questionnaires before and after each brain scan
Young to middle-aged healthy adults may participate in this study Candidates will be screened with a medical history physical examination electrocardiogram EKG psychiatric interview and blood and urine tests Participants will be assigned to one of the two study procedures as follows
TyrosinePhenylalanine
This study requires two overnight stays at the NIH Clinical Center For each stay subjects are admitted to the hospital the afternoon before the MRI scan From the time of admission until after the scan their diets are restricted to food relatively low in amino acids prepared by NIH dietitians The next day participants undergo MRI scanning For this procedure the subject lies on a table that is moved into the scanner a metal cylindrical machine Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises that occur with electrical switching of the radio frequency circuits Imaging of brain structure takes about 10 to 15 minutes Additional scans are then taken to measure brain activity while the subject plays simple computer games for money These scans take about another 20 to 45 minutes Five hours before the MRI the subject drinks one of two beverages containing amino acids A different beverage is given for each of the two visits one drink lacks the essential amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine from which the body makes dopamine the other contains balanced amounts of these two amino acids Finally subjects fill out mood-rating questionnaires before and after drinking each of the beverages
Dextroamphetamine
This study requires two outpatient visits to the NIH Clinical Center For one visit participants are given an injection of 02 mgkg body weight of the drug dextroamphetamine for the other they are given an injection of saline salt water After each injection they undergo MRI scanning while playing computer games for money as described above They will fill out mood-rating questionnaires before and after each brain scan
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this protocol is to advance the understanding of the behavioral neurobiology underlying substance dependency by exploring regional brain activity in response to appetitive and aversive stimuli in human subjects In this protocol brain activation is the dependent measure as measured by blood oxygenation level dependent BOLD signal acquired during functional magnetic resonance fMRI imaging Previous work in this laboratory has found that cues of anticipated monetary reward versus threat of negative reinforcement causes increased BOLD signal in the nucleus accumbens NAcc and other parts of the ventral striatum This protocol is intended to extend these findings by exploring whether the recently reported BOLD activation a hemodynamic response in certain brain regions in response to motivational cues can be perturbed by dopaminergic pharmacological manipulations
In a series of two repeated-measures within-subject experiments we propose to temporarily alter subjects brain monoamine neurotransmitter systems with pharmacological interventions prior to presenting the subjects with appetitive and aversive visual stimuli as well as cues signaling potential punishment and reward In the first experiment brain catecholamine systems will be deactivated by dietary restrictions of amino acid precursors Tyrosine Tyr and Phenylalanine Phe respectively In the second experiment the brain dopamine DA release will be transiently increased with administration of dextroamphetamine Amph Based on a wealth of existent findings we predict that acutely enhancing synaptic DA by Amph will augment reward-elicited activation in the ventral striatum Conversely acute dietary restriction of the DA precursor Tyr along with Tyr precursor Phe will blunt this activation Since substance use disorders SUD such as alcoholism may result from disordered neural systems regulating approach and avoidance behavior with respect to the substance this experiment can yield useful knowledge relevant to SUD
In a series of two repeated-measures within-subject experiments we propose to temporarily alter subjects brain monoamine neurotransmitter systems with pharmacological interventions prior to presenting the subjects with appetitive and aversive visual stimuli as well as cues signaling potential punishment and reward In the first experiment brain catecholamine systems will be deactivated by dietary restrictions of amino acid precursors Tyrosine Tyr and Phenylalanine Phe respectively In the second experiment the brain dopamine DA release will be transiently increased with administration of dextroamphetamine Amph Based on a wealth of existent findings we predict that acutely enhancing synaptic DA by Amph will augment reward-elicited activation in the ventral striatum Conversely acute dietary restriction of the DA precursor Tyr along with Tyr precursor Phe will blunt this activation Since substance use disorders SUD such as alcoholism may result from disordered neural systems regulating approach and avoidance behavior with respect to the substance this experiment can yield useful knowledge relevant to SUD
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None
Secondary IDs
| Secondary ID | Type | Domain | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03-AA-0013 | None | None | None |