Protocol Number: 05-M-0006

Title:

The Effect of Gabapentin on Prefrontal GABA Concentration and Emotional Processing in Healthy Humans

Number:

05-M-0006

Summary:

This study will use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and the drug gabapentin to examine the role of the brain chemical gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) in regulating emotions in healthy people. Gabapentin, which is used to treat epilepsy, increases GABA concentrations in the brain. MRS, similar to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a diagnostic test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the brain.

Non-smoking, healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 60 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical examination, psychiatric evaluation, blood and urine tests, and an electrocardiogram (EKG).

At three separate clinic visits, participants are given either gabapentin or a placebo (an inactive look-alike capsule). They take placebo at one visit, 600 mg of gabapentin at another visit, and 1200 mg of gabapentin at another visit. One hour after taking the capsules, the amount of GABA in the brain is measured by MRS. For this procedure, the subject lies on a table that moves into the MRI scanner (a narrow cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. The procedure lasts about 45 to 60 minutes, during which the patient is asked to lie still for up to a few minutes at a time.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Completed Study; data analyses ongoing

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria: This study is not currently recruiting new subjects. If you have questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal GABA

Stress

Emotion Recognition

Differential Reward

Gabapentin

GABA

Prefrontal Cortex

Emotional Processing

Healthy Humans

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Condition(s):

Healthy

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Interventions:

None

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Mental Health

Contact(s):

This study is not currently recruiting new subjects. If you have questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.

Citation(s):

Petroff OA.GABA and glutamate in the human brain. Neuroscientist. 2002 Dec;8(6):562-73.

McDonagh J, Stephen LJ, Dolan FM, Parks S, Dutton GN, Kelly K, Keating D, Sills GJ, Brodie MJ. Peripheral retinal dysfunction in patients taking vigabatrin.Neurology. 2003 Dec23;61(12):1690-4.

Petroff OA, Hyder F, Rothman DL, Mattson RH. Effects of gabapentin on brain GABA, homocarnosine, and pyrrolidinone in epilepsy patients. Epilepsia. 2000 Jun;41(6):675-80.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

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