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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01218425

Dopaminergic Modulation of Cognition and Psychomotor Function

A recent study at our lab showed increased episodic memory consolidation and response readiness after treatment with methylphenidate in healthy volunteers. The investigators seek to replicate and extend these findings. Furthermore the pharmacological specificity of these effects will be studied. Since methylphenidate has an effect on two neurotransmitters, dopamine and noradrenaline, either could be responsible for the observed effects. In order to explore the dopaminergic contribution to this effect, the study proposed here includes not only methylphenidate but also levodopa/carbidopa, which only affects dopamine and not noradrenaline.

In this study, 20 healthy males and females between 18 and 45 years of age will participate. They will be recruited via advertisements at Maastricht University and in local newspapers.

Participants will be treated once with methylphenidate, once with levodopa/carbidopa and once with placebo. All medications will be administered orally with a capsule.

It is hypothesized that methylphenidate and levodopa/carbidopa will both enhance episodic memory consolidation and improve response readiness

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Key information

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Maastricht University

Maastricht, Limburg, 6200, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female
  • 18 to 45 years of age
  • Healthy (i.e. absence of all exclusion criteria), normal static binocular acuity (corrected or uncorrected),
  • Body mass index between 18.5 and 30
  • Willingness to sign an informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • history of cardiac, hepatic, renal, pulmonary, neurological, gastrointestinal, haematological or psychiatric illness.
  • history of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, psychosis, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will be excluded from participation.
  • first-degree relative with a psychiatric disorder or a history with a psychiatric disorder
  • excessive drinking (>20 glasses of alcohol containing beverages a week
  • pregnancy or lactation
  • use of medication other than oral contraceptives
  • use of recreational drugs from 2 weeks before until the end of the experiment
  • any condition in which gastrointestinal motility might carry any risk
  • any sensory or motor deficits which could reasonably be expected to affect test performance

Treatment and study plan

Methylphenidate 40 mg

Drug

Oral dose 40 mg

Other names: Ritalin RVG 03957

Levodopa/carbidopa 125 mg

Drug

oral dose, 100 mg levodopa, 25 mg carbidopa in one capsule

Other names: Sinemet RVG08740

Domperidon 10 mg

Drug

Domperidon 10 mg

Other names: Domperidon RVG 23565

Primary outcomes

  1. Behavioral score on the Word learning test

    Time frame: 1 day

    Number of words recalled in the word learning test

Secondary outcomes

  1. CNV amplitude

    Time frame: 1 day

    Amplitude of the CNV wave in the EEG

  2. Reaction time on the CNV

    Time frame: 1 day

    Reaction time in the response preparation task in which CNV is measured

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Maastricht University Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
Oct 11, 2010
Registry last updated
Oct 25, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.