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Mechanisms of Repeated Real-time Biofeedback With 7-Tesla MRI in Depression

29 de octubre de 2026 actualizado por: University of Oxford

Previous work demonstrated that individuals are able to self-regulate their ventral tegmental area (VTA) activity using real-time biofeedback. The current study expands this approach to a larger sample with repeated training sessions to more robustly characterize the effects of VTA modulation. This mechanistic study will assess change in mood and motivation-related measures, as well as neural activity and connectivity changes.

Descripción general del estudio

Estado

Reclutamiento

Condiciones

Intervención / Tratamiento

Descripción detallada

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the world's largest health problems with current treatments that are ineffective for a substantial proportion of individuals. There is a critical need for mechanistically informed interventions that are individualized and that aim to target core symptoms. Converging evidence from animal and human research in the field has implicated the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a key component of the brain's dopamine system, in regulating motivation and reward-related behaviour. Previous work has demonstrated that participants can successfully train to self-regulate their VTA activity using cognitive strategies while receiving real-time feedback. This shows that VTA self-regulation is feasible in humans. The current study builds on this previous work to further investigate the relationships between VTA activity modulation and mood and motivation related changes in individuals with MDD, in a mechanistic manner. Specifically, this study will aim to extend on prior findings by increasing the sample size and incorporating repeated training sessions. A total of 60 participants with MDD will be recruited and will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either active biofeedback or sham (control) feedback. Participants will complete two training sessions with real-time 7T-MRI biofeedback. During functional MRI (fMRI) scanning, participants will be trained to use self-generated cognitive strategies to modulate their VTA activity while viewing a visual representation of their brain signal (active condition) or a yoked control signal (sham condition). The primary objective of this study is to determine how variation in VTA modulation is associated with mood and motivation related mechanisms that might change over time. Secondary objectives include assessing changes in VTA activation and functional connectivity over time, as well as examining how neural changes relate to mood and motivation-related changes.

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

60

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

Ubicaciones de estudio

      • Oxford, Reino Unido, OX39DU
        • Reclutamiento
        • Oxford Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN) FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

18 años a 65 años (Adulto, Adulto Mayor)

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Géneros elegibles para el estudio

Todos

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female aged 18-65 years;
  • Meets DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Axis Disorders (SCID) or the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); with a current major depressive episode; as conducted in a research-based non-clinical setting.
  • Participants must have a level of understanding of the English language sufficient to agree to all tests and examinations required by the study and must be able to participate fully in the informed consent process.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, neurocognitive disorder or cognitive impairment
  • Active substance use disorder within the past 1 year;
  • Any unstable medical illnesses;
  • Women who are pregnant;
  • Any contraindications to MRI
  • Antidepressant medication initiated within 2 weeks of the Baseline Assessment and concomitant use of any other medication with central nervous system activity during active participation;
  • Active suicidal intent or plan.

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Ciencia básica
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Doble

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Active Biofeedback

The participants in the active group will receive repeated active biofeedback training sessions.

The active biofeedback session will be done within the 7T MRI. It will include MOTIVATE and active rest trials. During each MOTIVATE trial, subjects will be instructed to generate a heightened state of motivation. Subjects will simultaneously view a progress bar on the screen during MOTIVATE trials that represents their VTA activity and they will be trained to try to increase the level of the bar by motivating themselves.

Comparador falso: Sham Biofeedback

The participants in the sham group will receive repeated sham biofeedback training sessions.

The sham biofeedback session resembles the active condition, however, the progress bar seen during the MOTIVATE trials will represent yoked sham values.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Mood and Motivation Related Mechanistic Measures
Periodo de tiempo: Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 6-week timeframe.

A single composite metric will be derived by factor analysis of a battery of validated mood and motivation related instruments (e.g. PANAS-SF, POMS-SF, MAP-SR), providing one expected latent mood and motivation factor. Modelling the instruments jointly avoids nominating any single scale as the mechanistic outcome, and controls for multiple comparisons. Unit of measure: standardized latent factor score (z / SD units).

Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 6-week timeframe.
VTA Connectivity
Periodo de tiempo: Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 4-week timeframe.

Functional connectivity between the VTA seed and whole-brain (voxelwise), measured with 7-Tesla fMRI. Unit of measure: Fisher z-transformed correlation coefficient.

Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 4-week timeframe.

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
VTA Activation
Periodo de tiempo: Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 4-week timeframe.

Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the bilateral ventral tegmental area (VTA) region of interest for MOTIVATE versus active rest trials, measured with task-based 7-Tesla fMRI. Unit of measure: percent BOLD signal change.

Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 4-week timeframe.
Association between change in VTA measures and change in the mood and motivation factor
Periodo de tiempo: Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 6-week timeframe.

The standardized VTA activation and connectivity measure will each be tested for an association with change in the mood and motivation factor. One coefficient is reported per VTA measure. Unit of measure: standardized regression coefficient (dimensionless, from -1 to 1).

Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 6-week timeframe.

Otras medidas de resultado

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Mood and Motivation EMA
Periodo de tiempo: Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 6-week timeframe.

Single-item mood and motivation ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Unit of measure: arbitrary likert rating.

Pre to post biofeedback training, within a 6-week timeframe.

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Patrocinador

Colaboradores

Investigadores

  • Investigador principal: Laurel S Morris, Dr, University of Oxford

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Estimado)

1 de diciembre de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

1 de junio de 2031

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

1 de junio de 2033

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

4 de junio de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

6 de julio de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

9 de julio de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

3 de noviembre de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

29 de octubre de 2026

Última verificación

1 de junio de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Otros números de identificación del estudio

  • MS IDREC 879781
  • 226532/Z/22/Z (Otro número de subvención/financiamiento: Wellcome Trust)

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

INDECISO

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .