Functional MRI Study in Healthy Children Engaged in Aggressive Behaviors

Functional Neuroimaging Study to Validate the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP) Task in Typically Developing Children (TDC) Aged 8-12 Years

The purpose of this non-interventional study is to optimize the point subtraction aggression paradigms (PSAP) task in typically developing children (TDC).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Impulsive Aggression

Detailed Description

The PSAP is a behavioral aggression test used to evaluate behavioral response related to impulsive aggression. The task will be combined with functional MRI to establish a reliable BOLD signal during testing in developing healthy subjects (8-12 years old) and, to determine the feasibility to perform the task.

Additionally, the levels of neurotransmitters Glutamate and GABA will be measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 17

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32751
      • Meridien Research, Inc.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 years to 10 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy Volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy male or female subjects, aged 8-12 years (inclusive) at the time of screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current history of developmental, psychiatric, or neurologic disorder, including seizures (except for uncomplicated brief febrile seizures), tumor, severe head injury/traumatic brain injury, stroke, lesion, or disease.
2. Known or suspected intelligence quotient (IQ) <70, diagnosis of mental retardation or cerebral palsy or speech/language disorder and history of implanted brain stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, cardiac pacemaker, orthodontic braces, or implanted medication port.
3. Visual and hearing (≥25 dB) impairment.
4. Pre-existing medical or psychological conditions that preclude being in the MRI scanner (e.g., claustrophobia, morbid obesity, or marked anxiety about the procedure).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Other

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Brain Imaging in typically developing healthy children during the PSAP aggression Task	The study has only one visit (approximately 2 hours). During the task each participant competes against a fictitious opponent (a computer in reality) to earn points. The participant will play a computer game in which they can steal points (simulating an aggressive behavior) or have points stolen by the opponent. 10 healthy subjects will be recruited for the study. To make the participant feel comfortable in the MRI, eligible subjects will spend time first to habituate to the scanner and then practice the task. The complete MRI will last one and half hour (at most). Functional imaging data (neural activation) will be collected during the behavioral aggression task, while playing the game. In addition, imaging data will be collected at resting state to understand the connectivity between regions of interest before and after the aggression task.	The study consist of one visit (total time-2 hrs.).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
GABA and Glutamate Levels	During the MRI scan, imaging data will be obtained while participants are able to listen to music. GABA and Glutamate signals measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) from two brain regions (anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala) will be used to quantify the two neurotransmitters.	The study consist of one visit (total time-2 hrs.).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Cherek DR, Moeller FG, Schnapp W, Dougherty DM. Studies of violent and nonviolent male parolees: I. Laboratory and psychometric measurements of aggression. Biol Psychiatry. 1997 Mar 1;41(5):514-22. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(96)00059-5.
• Bubenzer-Busch S, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Kuzmanovic B, Gaber TJ, Helmbold K, Ullisch MG, Baurmann D, Eickhoff SB, Fink GR, Zepf FD. Neural correlates of reactive aggression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbid disruptive behaviour disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2016 Apr;133(4):310-23. doi: 10.1111/acps.12475. Epub 2015 Aug 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 10, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 15, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): March 15, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 24, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 30, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): August 6, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 10, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 7, 2019
• Last Verified: February 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Aggression
• Other Study ID Numbers: 810P204a

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No