Dyadic Neurofeedback for Emotion Regulation in Youth With Maternal Adversity

This study will examine the effect of a real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dyadic neurofeedback protocol with mothers and their adolescent daughters. Mothers will view a moving bar showing their daughters' brain activity on a computer screen while talking to their daughters.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Emotional Dysfunction; Early Life Stress
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Real-time fMRI dyadic neurofeedback

Detailed Description

The current study will determine the effects of a real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging dyadic neurofeedback (rtfMRI-DNF) protocol that will train mothers with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to regulate adolescents' activation in the anterior insular cortex (aIC) - a key brain region for ER. The proposed study will test the efficacy of this protocol to promote healthy ER-related neurodevelopment in adolescents with a maternal history of adversity. The proposed study will use DNF to provide neurofeedback from the adolescent's aIC to the parent as the parent and adolescent engage in an emotion discussion task together. Parents and adolescents (n=10 dyads) will communicate via microphones and noise-canceling headphones while the adolescent is undergoing fMRI scanning. Specific aims of the current study are: (1) to determine the brain response to aIC DNF adolescents, and (2) to determine effects of DNF on parenting behaviors. This study is significant because engaging with parents in DNF can promote positive ER development in adolescents at risk due to the intergenerational effects of ACEs.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oklahoma
    • Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, 74136
      • Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

All participants inclusion criteria:

• Biological female
• Sufficient English fluency to complete tasks
• Co-residing at least 4 days per week

Inclusion criteria for adult participants:

• Primary caregiver for more than 50% of child's lifespan
• History of at least two adverse childhood experiences
• Biological parent of adolescent participant

Inclusion criteria for adolescents:

• Eligible for fMRI
• Right-handed
• Body mass index between 16 and 40 (inclusive)
• Age 14-17 years

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria for all participants:

• Current psychiatric diagnosis

Exclusion criteria for adolescent participants:

• Neurodevelopmental delay
• History of psychiatric disorder
• Medications influencing fMRI
• Medical conditions influencing fMRI

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Real-time fMRI dyadic neurofeedback	Behavioral: Real-time fMRI dyadic neurofeedback; Participants will attempt to regulate their partner's brain activation in a specified brain region via real-time fMRI neurofeedback.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal changes (brain activation)	Activation in the brain region targeted for neurofeedback and associated regions at Session 1. We hypothesize that lower activity will indicate a better outcome.	One hour (measured during first scan session)
Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal changes (brain activation)	Activation in the brain region targeted for neurofeedback and associated regions at Session 2. We hypothesize that lower activity will indicate a better outcome.	One hour (measured during second scan session)
Resting-state network activity (change over time)	Brain activity during fMRI resting-state scan	Change in resting-state activity over one week, from Session 1 to Session 2. Resting-state scan will last approximately 8 minutes.
Parent validating statements (change over time)	Validating statements made by the parent participant during the scan sessions. Statements will be coded using the Parent-Child Validation/Invalidation Behavior Coding Scales (Schneider & Fruzzetti, 2002). Higher scores are indicative of a better outcome.	Change in frequency in validation as coded by the manual over one week, from Session 1 to Session 2. Validating statements are measured and recorded during the scan sessions.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Parenting behaviors (change over time)	Change over time in adolescent's responses to the Children's Report of Parent Behavior Inventory (Schludermann & Schludermann, 1988). The CRPBI has 3 subscales, each with a score range of 10-30. Interpretation/valence of the scores varies by subscale.	Measured at the first research session and biweekly for two months
Emotion regulation (change over time)	Change over time in adolescent's responses to the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2008). The DERS consists of 36 items rated on a 1-5 Likert scale (scale range: 36-180). Higher scores indicate greater difficulties with emotion regulation.	Measured at the first research session and biweekly for two months
Depressive symptoms (change over time)	Change over time in adolescent's responses to the PROMIS (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System) Pediatric Short Form Version 2 (Quinn et al., 2014). This is an 8-item scale with scores ranging from 8-40, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms.	Measured at the first research session and biweekly for two months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
• Collaborators: Oklahoma State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 11, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 7, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): December 7, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 6, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): July 16, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 15, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Stress, Psychological
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHS2021035

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No