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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06787248

Real-time Neurofeedback Training of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Based on Positive Episodic Future Thinking

Randomized active-sham controlled between-subject real-time fMRI neurofeedback trial aiming to modulate activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to improve subjective positive anticipation.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Neurofeedback

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China(UESTC)

Chengdu, Sichuan, 611731, China

About this study

A randomized double-blind sham-controlled between-subject design using real-time fMRI neurofeedback. In a randomized order, a total of 60 healthy subjects will be recruited and assigned (1) experimental group (EG; N=30), which receives real neurofeedback from the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), or (2) control group (CG; N=30) which receives sham neurofeedback from the primary motor cortex (M1). Neurofeedback training consists of 1 baseline session without feedback, 4 training sessions with real-time feedback, and and 1 transfer session without feedback. Resting state fMRI will be employed to explore neural effects. Objectives are to determine (1) if subjects in the neurofeedback (NF) group can gain volitional control over the mPFC activation using positive episodic regulation strategy, (2) whether successful increased modulation of the mPFC could enhance positive anticipation for future events and motivation (using the Effort-Expenditure for Reward Task, EEfRT).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders

Exclusion criteria

  • History of brain injury
  • Psychiatric or Neurological Disorder
  • Contraindications for MRI
  • Regular use of psychotropic substances (medication, drugs)

Treatment and study plan

real-time fMRI sham-controlled neurofeedback training procedure

Procedure

real-time fMRI neurofeedback training procedure running on the Turbo Brain voyager (TBV) 4.2 software (Brain Innovation, Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Primary outcomes

  1. Neural activity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal

    Time frame: 1 hour

    Training-induced changes in mPFC activity will be assessed by analyzing BOLD-level activation of the mPFC

Secondary outcomes

  1. Training-related changes in anticipated pleasure

    Time frame: 1 hour

    Participants will be required to rate the anticipated pleasantness of future events using a Likert Scale ranging from 1 to 9 (1 = not at all pleasant) and 9 = very pleasant).

  2. Training-related changes in motivational effort

    Time frame: 1 hour

    Training-induced changes in motivational effort as measured by the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Self-regulation of the mPFC Using Rt-fMRI NF Training to Enhance Positive Anticipation for Future Events

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 29, 2025

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.

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