Dopaminergic Mechanisms Underlying Human Social Behavior

NCT ID: NCT04205994

Last Updated: 2024-05-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-12-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-12-31

Brief Summary

Developing theoretical, quantitative models of the basic cognitive mechanisms underlying human social decision-making, and understanding the influence of neuromodulators such as dopamine on these mechanisms, has important ramifications for both healthy and patient populations. In this proposal the investigators combine quantitative social measures, computational models, neuroimaging, and a pharmacological intervention to define the mechanisms of social decision-making.

Detailed Description

A significant challenge for understanding social dysfunctions observed in mental illness is to link high-level theories of social behavior and cognition with the computations performed by brain circuits. Specifically, how does the brain translate social perception into social valuation, and how does such valuation influence social actions? Investigators propose to leverage recent developments in economic theory and cognitive neuroscience to bridge this divide using a computational, model-based approach. In this proposal, investigators hypothesize that social behavior is underpinned by brain mechanisms that are influenced by the neurotransmitter dopamine, and that these mechanisms can be captured by computational models that integrate internal representations of social experience, and parameters relevant to dopamine tone, to inform social actions. Social valuation thus critically, and quantitatively, depends upon both internal social representations and the neurochemistry of the actor within the social environment. To assess this hypothesis, investigators pursue two approaches to evaluate dopamine tone: one in which investigators use an FDA-approved medication, tolcapone, to influence dopamine metabolism, and one in which investigators perform Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to measure dopamine release and baseline dopamine receptor D2/D3 occupancy. Investigators then apply a model of social valuation to subjects' behavior, and search for neural correlates of this valuation using functional MRI (fMRI). To this end, investigators bring together a group of experts in (1) the neuroeconomics and modeling of social and non-social decision-making, (2) cognitive neuroscience, (3) the pharmacology of frontostriatal circuits, and (4) neuroimaging. Investigators thus seek to broaden our understanding of the computations and circuits underlying social behavior. Moreover, investigators believe that a model-based understanding of these behaviors and neural circuits may guide more robust predictions of the effects of pharmacological manipulations on social valuation, and provide quantitative tools to assess the effects of such manipulations in patient populations, with possible therapeutic implications.

Conditions

Decision Making; Executive Function; Dopamine

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Tolcapone

Tolcapone is a brain penetrant catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor. It will be administered in a single 200mg dosage once in randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced fashion with a placebo.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Tolcapone 200 MG

Intervention Type: DRUG

Tolcapone is a brain penetrant catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor. It will be administered in randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced fashion with a placebo.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Intervention Type: OTHER

FMRI provides an indirect and noninvasive measure of brain activity.

Placebo

Placebo will be administered in a single pill once in randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced fashion with a placebo.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Intervention Type: OTHER

FMRI provides an indirect and noninvasive measure of brain activity.

Interventions

Tolcapone 200 MG

Tolcapone is a brain penetrant catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor. It will be administered in randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced fashion with a placebo.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

FMRI provides an indirect and noninvasive measure of brain activity.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Ages 18-40 and right-handed
• Able to provide written informed consent
• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity
• General good health as determined for tolcapone studies by screening provider (Dr. Kayser, Dr.Jagust, or other approved, licensed clinician)

Exclusion Criteria

• Regular and/or scheduled use of other neuro- or psycho-active medications
• Severe low blood pressure or uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Intelligence quotient (IQ) < 70 as assessed by the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR)
• History of mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury
• History of brain surgery (i.e. violating brain parenchyma) or penetrating brain injury
• Active alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria (within previous 30 days)
• Active substance dependence or substance abuse by DSM-IV-TR criteria (excluding nicotine, but including marijuana, opiates, stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines), and hallucinogens within previous 30 days)
• History of suicide attempt (last 5 years)
• Clinically severe medical illness requiring treatment
• History of brain tumor, stroke, demyelinating disease, encephalitis, or cerebral aneurysm rupture
• Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other primary neurodegenerative disorder
• Schizophrenia or other psychiatric disturbances

For Subjects Undergoing fMRI Scanning:

• Contraindications to MRI (e.g. unremovable ferromagnetic metals, claustrophobia)
• Inability to complete basic fMRI requirements (e.g. to make button presses and to minimize movement < 5mm)
• Women of childbearing potential take a urine pregnancy test prior to scanning.

For Tolcapone Experiments:

• Contraindications to tolcapone use, including liver function tests elevated more than 2.5 times above normal ranges, pregnancy, previous adverse reaction to tolcapone, significant liver or kidney impairment
• Current use (within previous 30 days) of pharmacological agents with dopaminergic actions, including but not limited to levodopa/carbidopa, entacapone, tolcapone, amantadine, bromocriptine, pergolide, pramipexole, ropinirole, selegiline, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, aripiprazole, fluphenazine, haloperidol, perphenazine, pimozide, thiothixene, trifluoperazine, loxapine, molindone, chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, thioridazine, promethazine, dextroamphetamine, dexmethylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, or methylphenidate

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of California, Berkeley

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Ming Hsu, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, Berkeley

Locations

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

231378

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id