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Investigating Mediodorsal Thalamus Representations Underlying Human Cognitive Flexibility

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 35 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

  • Procedures mentioned: MRI scans

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Participants will complete cognitive tasks while undergoing high-resolution brain imaging using 7-Tesla MRI."
  • "To address this gap, the investigators will use a computational cognitive neuroscience approach, integrating computational models with high-resolution 7T MRI and advanced neuroimaging analyses."
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 a brain area called the mediodorsal thalamus helps people change their thinking when rules or situations change. Participants will do thinking tasks during a high-powered MRI brain scan. It is for English speakers who have no health conditions or medicines that could affect thinking and meet the study’s MRI safety rules.

The goal of this basic experimental research study is to examine how the human thalamus supports flexible thinking and behavior. Specifically, the research aims to elucidate how the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus encodes and updates "context"-the mental framework that determines which rules or actions are relevant in a given situation. This work may contribute to understanding why certain psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and ADHD, involve difficulties with cognitive flexibility and control. The primary research questions are: Does the MD thalamus represent the context that organizes how working memory guides task selection? Does the MD thalamus signal when context needs to be updated after a change in task demands? Do these thalamic representations support generalization to new situations or rules? Participants will complete cognitive tasks while undergoing high-resolution brain imaging using 7-Tesla MRI. The investigators will combine behavioral data, computational modeling, and advanced neuroimaging analyses to examine how the thalamus interacts with the cortex during flexible decision-making.

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • No history of brain, nerve, mental health, or other health conditions that could affect thinking.
  • Do not use benzodiazepines (sedative medicines), long-acting opioid pain medicines, or other medicines that could affect thinking or mental activity.
  • Have normal vision, with glasses or contacts if needed, and normal color vision on a color test.
  • Speak English fluently.
  • Have no metal implants or devices listed as unsafe for this study, such as pacemakers, IUDs, pumps, joint replacements, or dentures.
  • Have no exposure to shrapnel (metal fragments), other reasons you cannot have an MRI, or body jewelry or makeup that cannot be removed.
  • Have no history of fear of tight spaces or breathing problems.
  • Are not pregnant or trying to get pregnant. You will be asked about this, and no record of your answer will be kept.

Who can't join

  • A history of brain, nerve, mental health, or other health conditions that could affect thinking.
  • Use of benzodiazepines (sedative medicines), long-acting opioid pain medicines, or other medicines that could affect thinking or mental activity.
  • Do not speak English fluently.
  • Have metal implants or devices listed by the study, such as pacemakers, IUDs, pumps, joint replacements, or dentures.
  • A history of fear of tight spaces.
  • Are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. You will be asked about this, and no record of your answer will be kept.

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

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * No history of any neurological, psychiatric, or medical condition that could affect cognition * No use of benzodiazepines, long-acting opioids, or other psychotropic drugs that could alter cognitive performance * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (visual acuity) * Normal color perception (Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test) * Fluent in English * No metal implants (including aneurysm clip, cardiac pacemaker, ICD, IUD, neurostimulation system, spinal cord stimulator, internal electrodes or wires, bone stimulator, ear implant, insulin or other infusion pump or device, prosthesis, artificial or prosthetic limb, shunt, vascular access port or catheter, thermodilution catheter, medication patch, radiation seeds or implants, wire mesh implant, tissue expander, surgical staples or clips or sutures, joint replacement, joint/bone pin/screw/nail/wire/plate, dentures, or non-removable hearing aid) * No exposure to shrapnel or other-related MR contraindications * No non-removable body piercing jewelry * No non-removable makeup * No history of claustrophobia * No history of breathing problems * Not currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant (this will be determined via self report and no records will be kept). Exclusion Criteria: * Has a history of any neurological, psychiatric, or medical condition that could affect cognition * Use of benzodiazepines, long-acting opioids, or other psychotropic drugs that could alter cognitive performance * Not fluent in English * Known metal implants (including aneurysm clip, cardiac pacemaker, ICD, IUD, neurostimulation system, spinal cord stimulator, internal electrodes or wires, bone stimulator, ear implant, insulin or other infusion pump or device, prosthesis, artificial or prosthetic limb, shunt, vascular access port or catheter, thermodilution catheter, medication patch, radiation seeds or implants, wire mesh implant, tissue expander, surgical staples or clips or sutures, joint replacement, joint/bone pin/screw/nail/wire/plate, dentures, or non-removable hearing aid) * History of claustrophobia * Currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant (this will be determined via self report and no records will be kept).

Study sites (1)

IA