MotivationNCT05929898
MRI Neurofeedback and Brain Circuits Related to Motivation in Healthy Participants
A study testing Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback in people with Motivation and Memory, run by Duke University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this research study is to understand how healthy individuals self-regulate motivation by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Motivation, Memory, Self-regulation
- What is being tested?
- Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 190 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 Jul 2023to 9 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 45 years
- Right-handed
- In good general health
Who cannot join
- 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.
Show all 21Show fewer
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
Durham, North Carolina, 27708
R. Alison Adcock, MD, PhD, 919-681-4601, alison.adcock@duke.edu
Alannah M Rivera-Cancel, BA, 919-385-0836, amr81@duke.edu
About this study
Official title: Bridging Scales to Understand Endogenous Neuromodulation and Its Regulation
The purpose of this research study is to understand how healthy individuals self-regulate motivation by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Read the detailed description
Neuromodulatory nuclei detect and transform brain network activity into simpler signals, then send neurotransmitters back out to large-scale brain networks to change their function. Such nuclei are centrally implicated in mental disorders and adaptive resilience, and their regulation remains an untapped resource for interventions. The purpose of this study is to understand how neuromodulatory nuclei detect and in turn influence distributed patterns of brain activity to impact behavior. In order to understand their regulation and effects on brain function, the investigative team has developed novel neuroimaging, behavioral, and analytic methods. These methods include: training participants to endogenously self-regulate dopaminergic midbrain and then relating midbrain activation to memory-conducive states, effort exertion, and decision making.
If the aims of this project are achieved, the investigators will have methods for regulating midbrain noninvasively, an improved understanding of its impact on learning and motivated behavior, and reliable cognitive strategies for a wide array of interventions across educational and clinical applications.
- Conditions
- Motivation, Memory, Self-regulation
- Being tested
- Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback
- Medical subject headings
- Self-Control
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedbackBehavioural
fMRI neurofeedback training of sustained midbrain/VTA activation via motivational imagery.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intentional Versus Cue-Evoked Midbrain Activation | Experimental | Participants meeting study inclusion will be scheduled for two sessions: one baseline behavioral visit and an fMRI session to assess the ability to self-stimulate VTA activation. Session one will include a battery of cognitive assessments and a demonstration of the reward-based learning task in session two. The experimental imaging task session will be done within one week of session one. Participants will been randomly split into two group: group one will complete a reward-based learning task before the VTA activation task and group two will complete reward task after VTA activation. During the VTA activation task, participants will be instructed to achieve a heightened state of motivation using personally relevant thoughts and imagery. Receives: Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback |
| Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Effort-Based Decision Making | Experimental | Participants will be randomly assigned to an MRI group or a behavioral control group. All participants will complete an effort-based learning task and a series of questionnaires in session one. Session two may include an MRI based on group assignment. Participants in the MRI group will complete the VTA activation task. Following, they will complete the effort task and questionnaires a second time. The behavioral control group will complete a second session consisting of the effort task and questionnaires. Receives: Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback |
| Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Motivated Memory | Experimental | Participants will take part in four sessions: visit 1-baseline + memory encoding, visit 2-memory retrieval, visit 3-memory encoding, visit 4-memory retrieval). Encoding and retrieval of the memoranda will occur 24 hours apart. Study visits will take place no more than 7 days apart. One group of participants will complete all sessions at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. The remainder of participants will complete the encoding sessions in the MRI machine, . Receives: Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percent signal change in VTA BOLD activation
Measured: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in effort-based decision making, as measured by the Effort Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT)
Decisions to exert effort.
Measured: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours
Change in motivated memory, as measured by the Monetary Incentive Encoding task (MIE)
Improved motivated memory formation.
Measured: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jul 2023
- Study start30 Jul 2023
- Primary completion8 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion9 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MotivationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Duke UniversityThe 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Duke University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- R. Alison Adock, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Duke University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05929898
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00112672
- Other IDs
- 1R01MH131667-01
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 10 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Bridging Scales to Understand Endogenous Neuromodulation and Its Regulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05929898
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Pro00112672
- Conditions
- Motivation, Memory, Self-regulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Duke UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study start
- 30 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 9 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Jul 2023 (actual)
- 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.
The purpose of this research study is to understand how healthy individuals self-regulate motivation by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Detailed description
Neuromodulatory nuclei detect and transform brain network activity into simpler signals, then send neurotransmitters back out to large-scale brain networks to change their function. Such nuclei are centrally implicated in mental disorders and adaptive resilience, and their regulation remains an untapped resource for interventions. The purpose of this study is to understand how neuromodulatory nuclei detect and in turn influence distributed patterns of brain activity to impact behavior. In order to understand their regulation and effects on brain function, the investigative team has developed novel neuroimaging, behavioral, and analytic methods. These methods include: training participants to endogenously self-regulate dopaminergic midbrain and then relating midbrain activation to memory-conducive states, effort exertion, and decision making.
If the aims of this project are achieved, the investigators will have methods for regulating midbrain noninvasively, an improved understanding of its impact on learning and motivated behavior, and reliable cognitive strategies for a wide array of interventions across educational and clinical applications.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intentional Versus Cue-Evoked Midbrain Activation | Experimental | Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedbackParticipants meeting study inclusion will be scheduled for two sessions: one baseline behavioral visit and an fMRI session to assess the ability to self-stimulate VTA activation. Session one will include a battery of cognitive assessments and a demonstration of the reward-based learning task in session two. The experimental imaging task session will be done within one week of session one. Participants will been randomly split into two group: group one will complete a reward-based learning task before the VTA activation task and group two will complete reward task after VTA activation. During the VTA activation task, participants will be instructed to achieve a heightened state of motivation using personally relevant thoughts and imagery. |
| Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Effort-Based Decision Making | Experimental | Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedbackParticipants will be randomly assigned to an MRI group or a behavioral control group. All participants will complete an effort-based learning task and a series of questionnaires in session one. Session two may include an MRI based on group assignment. Participants in the MRI group will complete the VTA activation task. Following, they will complete the effort task and questionnaires a second time. The behavioral control group will complete a second session consisting of the effort task and questionnaires. |
| Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Motivated Memory | Experimental | Behavioral: Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedbackParticipants will take part in four sessions: visit 1-baseline + memory encoding, visit 2-memory retrieval, visit 3-memory encoding, visit 4-memory retrieval). Encoding and retrieval of the memoranda will occur 24 hours apart. Study visits will take place no more than 7 days apart. One group of participants will complete all sessions at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. The remainder of participants will complete the encoding sessions in the MRI machine, . |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18 and 45 years
- Right-handed
- In good general health
Key exclusion criteria (21 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedbackfMRI neurofeedback training of sustained midbrain/VTA activation via motivational imagery. | Behavioural | Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Effort-Based Decision Making, Intentional Midbrain Activation Effects on Motivated Memory, Intentional Versus Cue-Evoked Midbrain Activation |
Primary outcome
Percent signal change in VTA BOLD activation
Time frame: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours
2 secondary outcomes
Change in effort-based decision making, as measured by the Effort Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT)
Time frame: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours
Change in motivated memory, as measured by the Monetary Incentive Encoding task (MIE)
Time frame: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
R. Alison Adock, MD, PhD principal investigator
Duke University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Ventral tegmental area of dopaminergic midbrain (VTA) fMRI neurofeedback in people with Motivation and Memory, run by Duke University 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 3 inclusion and 21 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jul 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Alannah Rivera-Cancel, BA (919-385-0836, amr81@duke.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percent signal change in VTA BOLD activation (time frame: During the MRI scan, approximately 2 hours). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 10 Jul 2026.