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

29 oktober 2026 uppdaterad av: 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.

Studieöversikt

Detaljerad beskrivning

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.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Beräknad)

60

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studiekontakt

Studieorter

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

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

18 år till 65 år (Vuxen, Äldre vuxen)

Tar emot friska volontärer

Nej

Kön som är behöriga för studier

Allt

Beskrivning

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.

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Grundläggande vetenskap
  • Tilldelning: Randomiserad
  • Interventionsmodell: Parallellt uppdrag
  • Maskning: Dubbel

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Experimentell: 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.

Sham Comparator: 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.

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Mood and Motivation Related Mechanistic Measures
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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.

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
VTA Activation
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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.

Andra resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Mood and Motivation EMA
Tidsram: 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.

Samarbetspartners och utredare

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Samarbetspartners

Utredare

  • Huvudutredare: Laurel S Morris, Dr, University of Oxford

Studieavstämningsdatum

Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.

Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Beräknad)

1 december 2026

Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)

1 juni 2031

Avslutad studie (Beräknad)

1 juni 2033

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

4 juni 2026

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

6 juli 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

9 juli 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

3 november 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

29 oktober 2026

Senast verifierad

1 juni 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Andra studie-ID-nummer

  • MS IDREC 879781
  • 226532/Z/22/Z (Annat bidrag/finansieringsnummer: Wellcome Trust)

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