Testing the Contribution of Orbitofrontal Cortex Networks to Reward Identity Learning

NCT ID: NCT04926961

Last Updated: 2025-06-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 42 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-06-16
• Study Completion Date: 2021-11-03

Brief Summary

This research study examines the contribution of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) networks to learning reward identity expectations.

Detailed Description

This study is designed to examine the contribution of OFC networks to reward identity learning. It will use network-targeted TMS to test whether OFC is necessary for reward identity learning. Healthy human subjects will perform a three-reward reversal learning task after either TMS or sham stimulation while fMRI data are acquired. This is a randomized, within-subject, cross-over study.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Sham stimulation first, then real stimulation

Participants will first be delivered sham TMS stimulation. Then on a separate day, participants will be delivered real TMS stimulation.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the placebo side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Real TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the active side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Real stimulation first, then sham stimulation

Participants will first be delivered real TMS stimulation. Then on a separate day, participants will be delivered sham TMS stimulation.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the placebo side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Real TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the active side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Interventions

Sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Sham TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the placebo side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Real transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Real TMS will be applied using the MagVenture MagPro X100 stimulator with the active side of the Cool-B65 A/P coil.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 18 and 50 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, alcoholism, 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
• 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, 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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Northwestern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Christina Zelano

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Christina Zelano, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northwestern University

Locations

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

STU00214694

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id