Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Apathy can be defined as a quantitative reduction of voluntary or goal-directed behavior.

So, the investigators propose a behavioral approach for assessing apathy, to obtain a quantifiable and objective signature of reduced goal-directed behavior by directly observing a patient in a real-life situation.

ECOCAPTURE consists of a multi-step scenario in a functional exploration platform equipped with data acquisition system based on video and sensors that track a participant's behavior.

The primary objective of this trial is to create a diagnostic tool for apathy, based on the video and sensors metrics.

A secondary objective of this trial is to validate a new experimental task (ICM_APATHY_TASKS) to test independently three main presumed mechanisms of apathy (motivation, cognitive inertia and coupling between motivation and action).

Another secondary objective aims to specify the pathophysiological mechanisms of apathy, corresponding to cognitive and behavioral processes, neural bases and neurohormonal mechanisms. The definition of pathophysiological mechanisms will allow the classification of apathetic patients (or several forms of apathy) and indicate which mechanism (s) best explains the apathy in a given patient.


Clinical Trial Description

A pilot study ECOCAPTURE (ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02496312, 2015) applied to a group of participants with the behavioural variant of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (bvFTLD) matched for age, gender and level of education to healthy participants (n=7 per group). This pilot validated the concept of ECOCAPTURE.

The purpose of this trial is to continue the implementation of the ECOCAPTURE tool, extending it to three pathological models: bvFTLD, Parkinson's disease and depression.

The objectives aim to assess behavior directed towards a goal and identify apathy, analyze data to obtain a behavioral signature of apathy and to produce more finely differentiated apathetic patients profiles by specifying the pathophysiological mechanisms (cognitive mechanisms, as well as the neural bases and the neuro-hormonal mechanisms) underlying apathy.

The investigators use multimodal recording tools to track behavior. A multiple-camera system is set up with video coverage of the whole room. A sensor (Move II, Movisens, Karlsruhe, Germany) fixed to the subject's hip, records data such as 3D acceleration, barometric pressure and temperature. From these data, secondary parameters like activity class, body position, steps, energy expenditure and metabolic equivalents are calculated. Video data analysis is performed with The Observer XT software (Noldus, Wageningen, The Netherlands) using an ethogram to identify the frequency and duration of behaviors. For 10 min, during the experimental session, participants ware eye-tracking glasses (ETG 2w, SMI, Teltow, Germany) that record natural gaze behavior.

Metrics built from raw data (video, sensors) are analyzed to reveal a behavioral signature of apathy, highlighting a quantitative reduction in goal-directed behavior.

The study takes place on two visits (one per day). It consists of the observation phase, a neuropsychological assessment, experimental tasks, some of which are computerized, an MRI examination and finally a blood test. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03272230
Study type Interventional
Source Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
Contact Bénédicte M BATRANCOURT, PhD
Phone (33-6) 60 44 79 79
Email benedicte.batrancourt@upmc.fr
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date September 6, 2017
Completion date February 28, 2022

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT05415774 - Combined Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease N/A
Recruiting NCT04691661 - Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy Study of Radotinib in Parkinson's Disease Phase 2
Active, not recruiting NCT05754086 - A Multidimensional Study on Articulation Deficits in Parkinsons Disease
Completed NCT04045925 - Feasibility Study of the Taïso Practice in Parkinson's Disease N/A
Recruiting NCT04194762 - PARK-FIT. Treadmill vs Cycling in Parkinson´s Disease. Definition of the Most Effective Model in Gait Reeducation N/A
Completed NCT02705755 - TD-9855 Phase 2 in Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (nOH) Phase 2
Terminated NCT03052712 - Validation and Standardization of a Battery Evaluation of the Socio-emotional Functions in Various Neurological Pathologies N/A
Recruiting NCT05830253 - Free-living Monitoring of Parkinson's Disease Using Smart Objects
Recruiting NCT06139965 - Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Comprehensive Coordination Scale in Parkinson's Patients
Completed NCT04580849 - Telerehabilitation Using a Dance Intervention in People With Parkinson's Disease N/A
Completed NCT03980418 - Evaluation of a Semiconductor Camera for the DaTSCAN™ Exam N/A
Completed NCT04477161 - Effect of Ketone Esters in Parkinson's Disease N/A
Recruiting NCT04788693 - Effects of Gait Rehabilitation With Motor Imagery in People With Parkinson's Disease N/A
Completed NCT04942392 - Digital Dance for People With Parkinson's Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic N/A
Terminated NCT03446833 - LFP Beta aDBS Feasibility Study N/A
Completed NCT03497884 - Individualized Precise Localization of rTMS on Primary Motor Area N/A
Completed NCT05538455 - Investigating ProCare4Life Impact on Quality of Life of Elderly Subjects With Neurodegenerative Diseases N/A
Recruiting NCT04997642 - Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinical Database
Completed NCT04117737 - A Pilot Study of Virtual Reality and Antigravity Treadmill for Gait Improvement in Parkinson N/A
Recruiting NCT03618901 - Rock Steady Boxing vs. Sensory Attention Focused Exercise N/A