RightFit
RecruitingNot applicable

The Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Age-related Distractibility

Losing Specificity: the Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Age-related Distractibility

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study looks at how links between parts of the brain may make it harder to ignore distractions as people age. It will test whether brain training can improve these links and attention. It is for healthy adults ages 18 to 75.

A growing body of research has highlighted the importance of frontal regions, at both the functional and structural levels, in age-related declines in attentional and cognitive processing. However, the underlying neurobiological pathophysiological changes in the brain that contribute to these declines are still largely unclear. The objective of this proposal is to investigate neural mechanisms of age-related attentional distractibility, focusing on the neural circuit initiated from the locus coeruleus (LC). In the current proposal, the investigators will test the hypothesis that the neural disconnectivity of LC with the salience network (SN) drives failures of ignoring distractors in older adults. The investigators will examine how LC-SN connectivity is associated with selective attention performance, and how improved LC-SN connectivity through a cognitive training program may lead to improved attentional performance.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • You are a healthy adult.
  • You are 18 to 75 years old.
  • You can give written consent to take part.

Who can't join

  • You have had surgery to put metal implants in your body, or you may have metal pieces in your eyes.
  • You have a pacemaker, a device that helps control your heartbeat.
  • You have a history of claustrophobia, or fear of small, closed spaces.
  • You have braces.
  • You weigh more than 250 pounds.
  • You are pregnant or might be pregnant.
  • You have a serious medical or mental health condition, such as blindness, deafness, or a head injury.
  • You have a learning or developmental disability.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion: * Healthy adult participants * No younger than 18 and no older than 75 yrs of age * Ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion: * History of surgery involving metal implants * Possible metal fragments in the eyes * Pacemaker * A history of claustrophobia * Braces * Weighing over 250 pounds * Pregnant or possibility of being pregnant. * Severe medical or psychiatric conditions (e.g., blind or deaf, head trauma) * Learning disabilities or developmental disabilities

Study sites (1)

VA