Influence of Stress on Encoding and Prediction

N/ACompletedNCT05920161

Yale University106 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate the neural mechanisms by which acute stress influences statistical learning and episodic encoding.

This study aims to assess the neural and behavioral mechanisms by which acute stress modulates episodic encoding (which involves the trisynaptic pathway: entorhinal cortex, dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis \[CA\] 3, and CA 1) and statistical learning (monosynaptic pathway: entorhinal cortex, CA1) in humans.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

106

Conditions

Stress Learning, Spatial

Interventions

Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor TestBEHAVIORAL

The SECPT is a brief validated laboratory-based stress induction containing both physical and social elements

ControlBEHAVIORAL

This is matched to the SECPT but with warm instead of cold water

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18-45 years old * Fluent in English * BMI 18-35 Exclusion Criteria: * Meeting current DSM-V criteria for any substance use disorder (except caffeine) * Having current significant medical conditions or psychiatric symptoms requiring medication * Current use of medications/drugs that interfere with physiological stress responses * Peri and post-menopausal women, pregnant or lactating women, and those with hysterectomies * Metal in body (for MRI safety) history will be assessed for female participants.

Locations (1)

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in fMRI Signal

fMRI signal during learning will be assessed using connectivity, multivariate, and univariate approaches over 1-2 hour long learning period. Correlation between change in CA1-EC background connectivity and pair familiarity. rho represents the true correlation within the entire population, with values ranging from -1 to +1; values closer to +1 indicate a strong positive linear relationship, closer to -1 a strong negative one, and closer to 0 indicate no linear relationship.

Time frame: 1-2 hours

Statistical Learning

Online measures of statistical learning ( mean reaction time) based on item predictability during task for condition A, B or x.

Time frame: 1-2 hours

Retention of Statistical Learning

Offline measure of statistical learning assessed through familiarity tests the next day (comparison of accurate recognition of previously-studied pairs to chance, 50%)

Time frame: 1 hour

Episodic Memory

Memory for individual items will be assessed through performance on old/new recognition tests the next day, quantified as hit rates and A' (non-parametric normalized ratio of hits to false alarms). Data presented here is the proportion of studied items attributed to the correct condition (A, B or X) minus the proportion of nonstudied items incorrectly attributed to that same condition.

Time frame: 1 hour

Secondary Outcomes

Cortisol Reactivity

Change in salivary cortisol levels following the SECPT/control procedure

Time frame: 1-2 hours

Alpha-amylase Reactivity

Change in salivary alpha-amylase levels following the SECPT/control procedure

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.