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NCT05111223NARecruitingAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Testing the Contribution of Orbitofrontal Cortex Networks to Decision-making

Northwestern University

Start Date

7/12/2022

Completion Date

8/31/2026

Summary

This research study examines the contribution of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) networks to decision-making.

Detailed Description

This study will combine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), olfactory stimuli, and a devaluation task to define the specific contributions of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) networks in outcome-guided behavior. We will use network-targeted TMS to modulate activity within anterior OFC and posterior OFC networks, examining if they have different contributions to decision-making. This is a randomized, between-subjects design.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 18 years to 40 years

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 40 years old * Right-handed * Fluent English speakers Exclusion Criteria: * History of significant neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, dementia, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, etc.) * History of major psychiatric conditions (e.g., general anxiety disorder, depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance use disorder, etc.) * Significant medical illnesses (e.g., cancer, meningitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, etc.) * Significant cerebrovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, etc.) * Current use of psychoactive medications (e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines, chloral hydrate, haloperidol, lithium, carbamazepine, phenytoin, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, diazepam, etc.) * Smell or taste dysfunction * History of significant allergies requiring hospitalization for treatment * History of severe asthma requiring hospitalization for treatment * Habitual smoking * History of eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, etc.) * Dieting or fasting * Magnetic implants (e.g., shunts or stents, aneurysm clips, surgical clips, cochlear implants, metal bone/joint pins, plates and screws, eyelid spring or wires, etc.) * Electronic devices (e.g., implanted cardiac defibrillator, cardiac pacemaker, deep brain/spinal cord or nerve stimulator, internal electrodes/wires, medication infusion devices, etc.) * History of metal working without proper eye protection, or injury with metal shrapnel or metal slivers * Claustrophobia * Pregnancy * Predisposition to seizures (e.g., personal history of seizures, family history of seizures epilepsy, pregnancy, alcoholism, etc.) * Use of medications that increase the likelihood of seizures (e.g., bupropion SR, citalopram, duloxetine, ketamine, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, etc.) * History of surgical procedures performed on the brain or spinal cord * History of severe head trauma followed by loss of consciousness * History of fainting spells or syncope * Hearing problems or tinnitus

Interventions

DEVICE

Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before conditioning

DEVICE

Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before devaluation test

DEVICE

Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

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Conditions

Healthy

Locations

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois 60657

United States