Protocol Number: 04-N-0113

Title:

Examining Associative Relations in Structured Event Complexes Using Functional Neuroimaging

Number:

04-N-0113

Summary:

This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine which areas of the brain are involved in performing certain cognitive tasks. MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of body tissues and organs that provide information about structure and function of tissues.

Healthy normal volunteers between 21 and 40 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates must be native English speakers and must be right-handed. They must have no history of nervous system disease or psychiatric disorder. Candidates are screened with questionnaires and a neurological examination.

Participants undergo functional MRI scanning. For this procedure, the subject lies on a stretcher that moves into the scanner - a metal cylinder surrounded by a strong magnetic field. During the scan, he or she is asked to make various decisions about whether words are related or not. Two words are presented visually, separated by a variable time delay. The subject reads both words, decides as quickly and accurately as possible whether the two words are related or not, and indicates the answer by pressing a button. The test takes about 2 hours. When it is completed, the subject completes a written questionnaire concerning his or her experience in the scanner.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In all the studies, subjects will consist of healthy, native English-speaking, right-handed volunteers, as measured by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory.

Subjects will range in age from 21 to 40 years old and they will be included regardless of race or gender.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Non-native English speakers and non-right handers will be excluded as mentioned above, as will non-neurologically normal volunteers.

Subjects younger than 21 and older than 40 will be excluded.

A pregnancy test will be employed with all women of childbearing age. The results must be negative in order to proceed with the MRI.

Subjects with any of the following: aneurysm clip; implanted neural stimulator; implanted cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator; cochlear implant; ocular foreign body, e.g. metal shavings; permanent eyeliner; insulin pump; or irremovable body piercing will be excluded from the study due to the possible dangerous effects of the magnet upon metal objects in the body.

Subjects taking central nervous system active medications will be excluded.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Prefrontal Cortex

Semantic Memory

Semantic Relations

Priming Paradigm

fMRI

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Condition(s):

Healthy

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

None

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Abernethy M, Coney J. Semantic category priming in the left cerebral hemisphere. Neuropsychologia. 1996 May;34(5):339-50.

Belliveau JW, et al. Functional mapping of the human visual cortex by magnetic resonance imaging. Science. 1991 Nov 1;254(5032):716-9.

Belliveau JW, et al. Functional cerebral imaging by susceptibility-contrast NMR. Magn Reson Med. 1990 Jun;14(3):538-46.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
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