Neural and Physiological Responses to Real-World Experiences

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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UCLA researchers looking for healthy individuals (aged 35-50) who have a home computer with internet access, are not pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding (if female), to participate in a study investigating whether real-world experiences alter the brain and body. This study takes place over an eight week period and involves providing the names of 8 close friends or family members, completing a neuroimaging session, providing blood and saliva (for genetic analysis), and a 6-week period in which participants login twice a week to complete online questionnaires. Compensation is up to $210 for those who complete all aspects of the study. Please email realworld.ucla@gmail.com for more information.

Official Title
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Neural and Physiological Responses to Real-World Experiences

Conditions
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Gene Expression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Writing about people
* Other: Writing about places, objects


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy adults between the ages of 35-50 Exclusion Criteria: Following a structured telephone interview, prospective participants with the following conditions will not be able to participate: claustrophobia, left-handedness, or presence of metal in their body (for the neuroimaging procedures), possible presence of a depressive disorder, which may interfere with the gratitude intervention (assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire; Spitzer et al., 1999), regular use of medications that may impact inflammatory processes (anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, opioids), current smokers or excessive caffeine users (> 600 mg/day) because of known effects on inflammation, and pregnancy (which would affect oxytocin gene expression).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 35 Years
Maximum Age: 50 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: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Writing condition<br>Subjects will be asked to write about other individuals in their lives. | Behavioral: Writing about people<br>* Subjects will be asked to write about other people in their lives once a week for 6-weeks.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Writing<br>Subjects will be asked to write about places or objects in their lives. | Other: Writing about places, objects<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| inflammatory gene expression | Changes in inflammatory gene expression from pre- to post-intervention. | baseline, six weeks post manipulation | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| neural activity | Changes in neural activity from pre- to post-intervention. | baseline, six weeks post-intervention |