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RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteersPhase 4

Beta-Blocker Influences on Inflammatory and Neural Responses to Stress

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), University of California, Los Angeles · NCT06263452

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–30 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Phase 4
Target enrollment
120
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
May 1, 2024
Record last updated
October 29, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The purpose of this study is to map the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying psychological stress-induced changes in inflammation which could reveal new targets for intervention to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Being studied: Propranolol; Placebo

Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Ages 18-30 years
  • Right-handed
  • Fluent in English reading, writing, and speaking at least at a 10th grade level
  • Body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to 35 kg/m\^2

Exclusion Criteria

Assessed as screening, reassessed at Session I:

  • Non-removeable metal devices/implants/objects in the body
  • Severe claustrophobia (assessed by self-report)
  • Currently pregnant
  • Left-handed
  • Body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m\^2
  • History of fainting spells or any heart condition
  • History of or present low resting heart rate (\< 60 BPM) and/or low blood pressure (systolic blood pressure \< 80mmHg)
  • Self-reported physical illnesses: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, autoimmune disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus
  • Any self-reported diagnosed mental illness
  • Current use of prescription medications (except hormonal contraceptives)
  • Current or recent regular nicotine/tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape, chewing tobacco, nicotine gum)
  • Current regular (daily or almost daily) recreational drug use = 4 or more times per week

Instructed against during Session I, reassessed at Session II:

  • Received any vaccine within the past two weeks
  • Severe sleep disturbance (3-4 hours of sleep loss) the night before Session II
  • Vigorous physical activity on the day of Session II
  • Acute illness or allergy symptoms on the day of Session II
  • Usage of over-the-counter medications on the day of Session II
  • Usage of recreational drugs within 48 hours of Session II
  • Usage of alcohol on the day of Session II

Recruiting US locations

  • Social Neuroscience and Health Laboratory

    Chapel Hill, NC 27514

    Site contact: Keely A Muscatell, PhD · 916-495-7661 · kmuscatell@unc.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Jonathan Bunting, BS · 9164957661 · jonb@unc.edu
  • Keely A Muscatell, PhD · 9164957661 · kmuscatell@unc.edu
All heart & blood pressure studies in North Carolina →
Beta-Blocker Influences on Inflammatory and Neural Responses to Stress (NCT06263452) | Bored Studies