HealthyNCT00095407
The Functional Anatomy of Personality Trait Knowledge: An fMRI Study
An observational study of Healthy, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will identify the regions of the brain that are involved in personality trait knowledge-that is, what a person knows about aspects of personality such as "generous," "honest," and others. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- How many people
- 190 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 Oct 2004to 29 Dec 2011
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- In all the studies, subjects will consist of healthy, native English-speaking, right-handed volunteers, as measured by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield, 1971). Subjects will range in age from 21 to 65 years old and they will be included regardless of race and gender.
Who cannot join
- Non-native English speakers and non-right handers will be excluded as mentioned above, as will non-neurologically normal volunteers. Subjects younger than 21 and older than 65 will be excluded. A urine pregnancy test will be employed with all women of childbearing age no more than 24 hours prior to the MRI. The results must be negative in order to proceed with the MRI.
- Participants with any of the following: aneurysm clip; implanted neural stimulator; implanted cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator; cochlear implant; ocular foreign body, e.g. metal shavings; permanent eyeliner; insulin pump; or irremovable body piercing will be excluded from the study due to the possible dangerous effects of the magnet upon metal objects in the body. Participants taking central nervous system active medications will be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Official title: The Functional Anatomy of Personality Trait Knowledge: an fMRI Study
This study will identify the regions of the brain that are involved in personality trait knowledge-that is, what a person knows about aspects of personality such as "generous," "honest," and others. It will also examine brain areas relating to a person's knowledge of how likeable those personality traits are, being familiar with the traits, and the degree of associating such traits with one's self. There has not been any previous study, through modern imaging techniques, on the location of the brain and the concepts of personality traits.
Patients ages 21 to 65 who are in good health, are right handed, and native speakers of English may be eligible for this study. Pregnant women are not eligible. There will be 200 participants involved in pencil-and-paper or computer tasks. Also, there will be three functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments with 32 participants. Patients may participate in up to three fMRI experiments.
Read more
Patients will be recruited through NIH's Normal Control Database. They would need to have had a neuroexamination conducted by an NIH doctor within the last year. Patients will be interviewed for any medical, neurological, or psychological condition that would make it difficult to read the fMRI results. Depending on the studies that patients take part in, they will have different questionnaires to complete. They may also perform a computerized test that measures word associations. These tests will take about 1 to 2 hours.
The technique of MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. During the initial MRI scan, patients will lie still on a table that will slide into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner. They will be in the scanner not longer than 2 hours. During the procedure, they may be asked to lie as still as possible for up to 1 hour at a time. As the scanner takes pictures, patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds, and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise. Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the scan, and they may ask to be moved out of the machine at any time. Then the functional MRI (fMRI) scan will involve taking pictures of the brain while patients are performing tasks. All the tasks will be explained, and patients will have the chance to practice them before entering the scanner. For this activity, patients will be asked to make decisions about what they are seeing in the tasks presented to them. They will decide "yes" and "no" by pressing a left or right button. This scan will take about 1 hour. Afterward, patients may be asked to fill out written questionnaires or to perform reaction time tasks by using a computer.
This study will not have a direct benefit for participants. However, it is hoped that information gained will enhance researchers' understanding about which areas of the brain are necessary to perform certain tasks.
Read the detailed description
Objective. The purpose of the protocol is to identify the brain regions involved in personality trait knowledge, associated affective valence and person-trait associations. We propose using parametric event-related fMRI in addition to classical reaction time measures, to answer the question of whether a specialized neural system is involved in semantic processing of personality trait concepts. We will apply methods that have been used in previous investigations to identify category-specific semantic (meaning) systems for living and non-living objects.
Study Population. Healthy, normal adult, right-handed volunteers will be studied during functional neuroimaging and in behavioral pre-tests.
Design. Behavioral pre-tests (N=200 subjects) are used to obtain psycholinguistic stimulus parameters used in the fMRI experiments. Three parametric event-related functional MRI experiments (for a total of 104 subjects) using personality trait concept words as main input stimuli will be conducted.
Outcome Measures. The data collected will consist of questionnaire results, behavioral measures of cognitive performance and corresponding fMRI images. The results gained from this protocol will be of value in advancing the neuroscience of person perception and social cognition.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Social Cognition, Semantic Memory, Prefrontal Cortex, Temporal Cortex, Conceptual Self
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Study start29 Oct 2004
- Study completion29 Dec 2011
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00095407
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 050018
- Other IDs
- 05-N-0018
- Status last verified
- 29 Dec 2011
- First submitted
- 3 Nov 2004
- Last updated
- 2 Jul 2017
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Adolphs R. Cognitive neuroscience of human social behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003 Mar;4(3):165-78. doi: 10.1038/nrn1056.
PubMed 12612630Altshuler LL, Bartzokis G, Grieder T, Curran J, Mintz J. Amygdala enlargement in bipolar disorder and hippocampal reduction in schizophrenia: an MRI study demonstrating neuroanatomic specificity. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;55(7):663-4. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.55.7.663. No abstract available.
PubMed 9672058Ashburner J, Friston KJ. Voxel-based morphometry--the methods. Neuroimage. 2000 Jun;11(6 Pt 1):805-21. doi: 10.1006/nimg.2000.0582.
PubMed 10860804
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jul 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Functional Anatomy of Personality Trait Knowledge: an fMRI Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00095407
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 050018
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Social Cognition, Semantic Memory, Prefrontal Cortex, Temporal Cortex, Conceptual Self
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 29 Oct 2004
- Study completion
- 29 Dec 2011
- First posted
- 4 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will identify the regions of the brain that are involved in personality trait knowledge-that is, what a person knows about aspects of personality such as "generous," "honest," and others. It will also examine brain areas relating to a person's knowledge of how likeable those personality traits are, being familiar with the traits, and the degree of associating such traits with one's self. There has not been any previous study, through modern imaging techniques, on the location of the brain and the concepts of personality traits.
Patients ages 21 to 65 who are in good health, are right handed, and native speakers of English may be eligible for this study. Pregnant women are not eligible. There will be 200 participants involved in pencil-and-paper or computer tasks. Also, there will be three functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments with 32 participants. Patients may participate in up to three fMRI experiments.
Patients will be recruited through NIH's Normal Control Database. They would need to have had a neuroexamination conducted by an NIH doctor within the last year. Patients will be interviewed for any medical, neurological, or psychological condition that would make it difficult to read the fMRI results. Depending on the studies that patients take part in, they will have different questionnaires to complete. They may also perform a computerized test that measures word associations. These tests will take about 1 to 2 hours.
The technique of MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. During the initial MRI scan, patients will lie still on a table that will slide into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner. They will be in the scanner not longer than 2 hours. During the procedure, they may be asked to lie as still as possible for up to 1 hour at a time. As the scanner takes pictures, patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds, and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise. Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the scan, and they may ask to be moved out of the machine at any time. Then the functional MRI (fMRI) scan will involve taking pictures of the brain while patients are performing tasks. All the tasks will be explained, and patients will have the chance to practice them before entering the scanner. For this activity, patients will be asked to make decisions about what they are seeing in the tasks presented to them. They will decide "yes" and "no" by pressing a left or right button. This scan will take about 1 hour. Afterward, patients may be asked to fill out written questionnaires or to perform reaction time tasks by using a computer.
This study will not have a direct benefit for participants. However, it is hoped that information gained will enhance researchers' understanding about which areas of the brain are necessary to perform certain tasks.
Detailed description
Objective. The purpose of the protocol is to identify the brain regions involved in personality trait knowledge, associated affective valence and person-trait associations. We propose using parametric event-related fMRI in addition to classical reaction time measures, to answer the question of whether a specialized neural system is involved in semantic processing of personality trait concepts. We will apply methods that have been used in previous investigations to identify category-specific semantic (meaning) systems for living and non-living objects.
Study Population. Healthy, normal adult, right-handed volunteers will be studied during functional neuroimaging and in behavioral pre-tests.
Design. Behavioral pre-tests (N=200 subjects) are used to obtain psycholinguistic stimulus parameters used in the fMRI experiments. Three parametric event-related functional MRI experiments (for a total of 104 subjects) using personality trait concept words as main input stimuli will be conducted.
Outcome Measures. The data collected will consist of questionnaire results, behavioral measures of cognitive performance and corresponding fMRI images. The results gained from this protocol will be of value in advancing the neuroscience of person perception and social cognition.
Study design
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- In all the studies, subjects will consist of healthy, native English-speaking, right-handed volunteers, as measured by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield, 1971). Subjects will range in age from 21 to 65 years old and they will be included regardless of race and gender.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Non-native English speakers and non-right handers will be excluded as mentioned above, as will non-neurologically normal volunteers. Subjects younger than 21 and older than 65 will be excluded. A urine pregnancy test will be employed with all women of childbearing age no more than 24 hours prior to the MRI. The results must be negative in order to proceed with the MRI.
- Participants with any of the following: aneurysm clip; implanted neural stimulator; implanted cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator; cochlear implant; ocular foreign body, e.g. metal shavings; permanent eyeliner; insulin pump; or irremovable body piercing will be excluded from the study due to the possible dangerous effects of the magnet upon metal objects in the body. Participants taking central nervous system active medications will be excluded.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Not reported in the source record.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jul 2017.
- Background: PubMed 12612630Adolphs R. Cognitive neuroscience of human social behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003 Mar;4(3):165-78. doi: 10.1038/nrn1056.
- Background: PubMed 9672058Altshuler LL, Bartzokis G, Grieder T, Curran J, Mintz J. Amygdala enlargement in bipolar disorder and hippocampal reduction in schizophrenia: an MRI study demonstrating neuroanatomic specificity. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;55(7):663-4. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.55.7.663. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 10860804Ashburner J, Friston KJ. Voxel-based morphometry--the methods. Neuroimage. 2000 Jun;11(6 Pt 1):805-21. doi: 10.1006/nimg.2000.0582.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Healthy, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00095407, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2017; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.