Exploring the Relationship Between Brain Asymmetry and Attention

Normal Physiology Clinical Trial

Official title: Exploring the Relationship Between Brain Asymmetry and Attention

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Background:

People tend to pay more attention to one side of space than the other and this may be due to differences in the structure and function of the two sides of the brain. We are interested in whether we can detect those difference with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroencephalography (EEG).

Objective:

The purpose of the study is to understand how differences in brain structure may cause people to pay more attention to one side than the other.

Eligibility:

Healthy adults ages 18-35

Design:

Participants will be screened with a neurological exam.

Participants will have 2-3 visits for a total duration of about 7/8 hours.

Women of childbearing age must have a negative pregnancy test before each MRI scan.

Visits may include:

Physical exam

Tests of attention, and thinking

TMS. A brief electrical current will pass through a wire coil on the scalp. Participants will hear a click and may feel a pull. They may be asked to tense muscles or do tasks.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan for a maximum of 1 hour. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a cylinder in a strong magnetic field. They will do tasks on a computer screen or lie still. They will get earplugs for loud noise.

EEG for no longer than 5 hours, with most lasting 3 hours. Gel and a cap with electrodes will be placed on the scalp. They will record brain waves while the participant gets TMS or does nothing.

Questions about participants dominant hand and about the MRI.

Clinical Trial Description

Objective

The goal of this protocol to explore correlations between lateralized individual differences in visual attentional preference and hemispheric asymmetries in functional connectivity between the frontal and parietal visual attention areas. To measure functional connectivity, resting state functional MRI and electroencephalographic (EEG) potentials evoked with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be used. Protocol research will also attempt to validate the TMS-evoked EEG potentials against fMRI resting state functional connectivity.

Study Population

Up to 80 right-handed and right-eyed healthy volunteers, aged 18-35

Design

TMS evoked EEG potentials (TEPs) and fMRI will be used to measure functional connectivity between the posterior parietal cortex and the frontal visual attention area. Various tasks will be used to quantify attention and explore their relationship with asymmetries in functional connectivity. A qualitative comparison between the value of fMRI and TEPs for predicting attentional bias will be made.

Outcome Measures

• Behavioral measures of attention

• TEP measures of functional connectivity

• fMRI measures of functional connectivity ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Normal Physiology

• NCT number: NCT03789201
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 28, 2019
• Completion date: October 24, 2022