The purpose of this study is to test whether administration of levetiracetam (LEV), a commonly used anti-epileptic that alters neurotransmitter release, can reduce hippocampal hyperactivity in people with psychotic disorders. Specifically, the investigators will utilize two functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques: 1) blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast will assess activity with a visual scene processing task that engages the anterior hippocampus and 2) arterial spin labeling (ASL) will assess baseline activity. Previous studies in people with psychotic disorders have shown that the hippocampus is hyperactive and more activity correlates with worsening of clinical symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study is to use an intervention to further understand the underlying mechanisms of the hippocampus in psychosis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
62
The levetiracetam pill will look just like the placebo pill.
The placebo pill will look just like the levetiracetam pill, but does not contain any levetiracetam.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Hippocampal Activity (Arterial Spin Labeling [ASL] Study) After Levetiracetam (LEV)
ASL signal after LEV, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning of the brain. ASL measures cerebral blood flow, which is linked to neuronal metabolism and functions as a proxy for neuronal activity.
Time frame: 2 hours after LEV administration
Hippocampal Activity (Arterial Spin Labeling [ASL] Study) After Placebo
ASL signal after placebo, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning of the brain. ASL measures cerebral blood flow, which is linked to neuronal metabolism and functions as a proxy for neuronal activity.
Time frame: 2 hours after placebo administration
Hippocampal Recruitment (Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent [BOLD] Study) After Levetiracetam (LEV)
BOLD signal after LEV, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning of the brain. This method reflects changes in oxygenation of blood in the brain during a scene-processing task that engages, or recruits, the hippocampus.
Time frame: 2 hours after LEV administration
Hippocampal Recruitment (Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent [BOLD] Study) After Placebo
BOLD signal after placebo, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning of the brain. This method reflects changes in oxygenation of blood in the brain during a scene-processing task that engages, or recruits, the hippocampus.
Time frame: 2 hours after placebo administration
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