RecruitingNCT01087281

Top-Down Attentional Control of Visual-Processing


Sponsor

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Enrollment

300 participants

Start Date

Jul 23, 2012

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Conditions

Summary

Background: \- Previous studies have shown that people with certain types of brain damage may have particular problems paying attention and processing things that they see. Researchers are interested in comparing how people with brain damage and without brain damage process visual images. Objectives: \- To better understand the areas of the brain involved in paying attention to things that are seen. Eligibility: \- Individuals at least 18 years of age who either have had damage to one or both sides of specific parts of the brain (e.g., stroke, injury, certain neurosurgery procedures) or are healthy volunteers. Design: * The study involves 4 to 10 visits to the NIH Clinical Center over 1 to 2 years. Each visit will last approximately 2 hours. * Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, and may have the cognitive testing described below during the same visit. * On the first visit and for at least one visit thereafter, participants will have cognitive testing to evaluate thinking and memory. These tests will be either written tests or computer-based tests. * Some participants will qualify for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as part of the study. This part will involve a decision-making task that will be performed on a computer during the fMRI scan. Additional scans may be required as directed by the study doctors. * Some randomly selected participants will be asked to have magnetoencephalography (MEG), a procedure to record very small magnetic field changes produced by brain activity. * During the behavioral training, or fMRI or MEG scanning, participants may be monitored with equipment to track eye movements.


Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 100 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This NIH brain study investigates how the brain controls attention — specifically, how the prefrontal and parietal regions of the brain direct what we see and focus on. The study includes brain-injured patients with focal lesions in key attention regions, as well as healthy volunteers. Some participants may also undergo MRI brain scanning. You may be eligible if: - You are 18 years of age or older - You have at least a high school education - You can read, write, and communicate in English - You are capable of giving your own informed consent - (For patients) You have a focal brain lesion from stroke or surgery that is at least 3 months old - (For healthy volunteers) You are neurologically normal and in good general health You may NOT be eligible if: - You have an unrelated neurological or psychiatric condition (e.g., epilepsy, schizophrenia) - You have a previous head injury - You have a history of drug or alcohol abuse in the past 6 months - You are pregnant (for MRI sessions) - You have a metal implant incompatible with MRI - You are color-blind (for certain tasks) Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Locations(1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

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NCT01087281


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