Use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Study Visual Attention
Completed
Conditions studied: Healthy
In brief
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how the brain allows people to focus on important objects and filter out unimportant ones when looking at visual images. Our senses provide us with a vast amount of information at any given moment in time. For example, visual scenes contain many different objects that cannot be processed simultaneously because of the limited processing capacity of the brain's visual system. Evidence suggests that a a network of brain regions selects relevant information and filters out irrelevant information when people view cluttered visual scenes. This study will use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine how the different brain regions involved in attentional control and filtering interact. Participants in this study will undergo computer tests, an MRI scan, and TMS. During the MRI, participants will look at pictures and count objects appearing on a screen. During the TMS, participants will perform a computer test. Participants' ability to pay attention will be tested with and without TMS. Participants may be asked to return for additional tests in the future....
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00006285
- Run by
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- People needed
- 30
- Starts
- 2000-09-14
- Expected to finish
- 2002-04-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2017-07-02
Who can join
Age: 20 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may not qualify if…
- Pregnant women will be excluded.
- Subjects with a personal or family history of seizures will be excluded.
- Subjects with a history of neurologic disease, ocular foreign body, increased intracranial pressure, open head injury or significant closed head injury will be excluded.
- Subjects with cochlear implants, implanted brain stimulators, aneurysm clips or other metal in the head (except mouth) will be excluded.
- Subjects taking tricyclic anti-depressants, neuroleptic agents or other drugs that lower the seizure threshold will be excluded.
- Subjects with a history of illicit drug use or who are abusing or withdrawing from alcohol abuse will be excluded.
- Subjects with a history of a major psychiatric disorder will be excluded.
- Subjects with implanted medication pumps, pacemakers, intracardiac lines or significant heart disease will be excluded.
Where it is running
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike — Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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