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MRI Neurofeedback and Brain Circuits Related to Motivation in Healthy Participants

Duke University · with National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NCT05929898

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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 18–45 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
190
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
July 30, 2023
Record last updated
July 10, 2026

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

What the study is about

The purpose of this research study is to understand how healthy individuals self-regulate motivation by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Being studied: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback

Conditions: Motivation; Memory; Self-regulation

Eligibility criteria

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

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age between 18 and 45 years
  • Right-handed
  • In good general health

Exclusion Criteria

  • Current or diagnosis within past six months of an DSM-V Axis I or Axis II disorder (self-reported)
  • CES-D score of 20 or higher (indicating significant current depression symptoms)
  • Current or past six month use of prescription medications indicated for psychiatric conditions (e.g.,depression, anxiety)
  • Current serious medical illness (self-reported)
  • Head injury resulting in loss of consciousness
  • For participants age > 59 years, a total scaled score \< 8 on the Dementia Rating Scale-2.
  • A clinically-defined neurological disorder including, but not limited to:
  • Any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure
  • Space occupying brain lesion
  • History of stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack within two years
  • Cerebral aneurysm
  • Dementia
  • Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score of \<24
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Huntington's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Presence of cochlear implants or other implanted electronic devices or non-removable metal (e.g., non-removable piercing, IUD)
  • History of an eye injury involving metal. Participants who worked with metal may be allowed to participate on a case-by-case basis with prior written approval from BIAC.
  • Claustrophobia or unwillingness to tolerate the confinement associated with being in the MRI scanner.
  • Weight of more than 250 pounds

Recruiting US locations

  • Center for Cognitive Neuroscience

    Durham, NC 27708

    Site contact: R. Alison Adcock, MD, PhD · 919-681-4601 · alison.adcock@duke.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Alannah Rivera-Cancel, BA · 919-385-0836 · amr81@duke.edu
  • R. Alison Adock, MD, PhD · 919-681-4601 · alison.adcock@duke.edu
All healthy volunteers studies in North Carolina →
MRI Neurofeedback and Brain Circuits Related to Motivation in… (NCT05929898) | Bored Studies