Investigating the Effects of Social Stress on Brain Imaging

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to examine whether experiencing a social stressor prior to the collection of neuroimaging measures is associated with differences in brain activation in healthy participants.

Detailed Description
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Using a randomized, parallel-group study design, this scientific investigation will examine the effect that experiencing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), the gold-standard for ethically inducing stress in a controlled laboratory setting, may have on neuroimaging measures of anxiety in healthy subjects. The study will enroll 50 healthy subjects who will be randomized to either experience the TSST or watch a nature film prior to undergoing task-based neuroimaging measures of emotional processing and self-referential processing using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study will be conducted primarily at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with research and clinical support from Massachusetts General Hospital.

Official Title
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Investigating the Effects of Social Stress on Brain Imaging

Conditions
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Social Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent. Sufficiently fluent in English to participate in the trial. Between 18-55 years of age (inclusive). Right-hand dominant. Current medications are stable for past 30 days (no changes to dose or frequency). Negative result on pregnancy test (if female). Negative result on urine drug screening. No clinically significant mental health disorders (QuickSCID-5). Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS <30). Exclusion Criteria: History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, delusional disorders. History of eating disorder within past 6 months. History of any traumatic brain injury. Currently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Presence of severe medical illness that would prevent completion of study procedures. Presence of significant neurological illness or cognitive dysfunction (e.g.; seizures, dementia). History of substance use disorder within past 6 months (other than nicotine and caffeine). Use of any cannabis-containing products in past 30 days (CBD or THC). Use of beta-blockers or benzodiazepines in past 2 weeks. History of claustrophobia. Contraindications for MRI (e.g.; shrapnel). Presence of any other medical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with the study procedures.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Film + TSST<br>Nature Film + Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) | Behavioral: Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)<br>* Participants randomized to the TSST arm will experience the Trier Social Stress Test.<br>|
| No Intervention: Film Only (No-TSST)<br>Nature Film Only | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences in fMRI BOLD Response | Patterns of brain activation measured as blood-oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signals will be assessed using 3.0 Tesla (3T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Several exploratory imaging paradigms, including the emotional face-matching task (EFMT) and the self-referential comment task (SRCT), will be used to examine differences between participants who experience the TSST and those who do not. | Day 1 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Social Stress, fMRI