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Brain's energy use during surprises revealed by new imaging

NCT ID NCT05756335

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 02, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026

Summary

This study investigates how the brain's use of glucose and oxygen changes when processing unpredictable sights and sounds. Healthy adults aged 21-35 will undergo combined PET and fMRI scans while performing tasks with predictable or random stimuli. The goal is to understand the link between brain metabolism and sensory processing.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If successful, this research could improve understanding of how the brain processes unexpected sensory information, potentially informing future studies on neurological conditions.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage observational study in healthy volunteers, so findings may not apply to clinical populations or lead directly to treatments.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

24 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Apr 2024

Finished

Feb 2026

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

21 to 35 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 21-35. * No contraindications to MRI or PET scanning. * Right-handed. * Fluent to speak, read, and understand English. Exclusion Criteria: * Adults unable to consent * Contraindications to fMRI scanning and PET scanning (including the presence of a cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires, metallic particles in the body, vascular clips in the head or previous neurosurgery, prosthetic heart valves, claustrophobia) * Inability to lie motionless in the scanner * Pregnancy, seeking or suspecting pregnancy, or breastfeeding * History of major head trauma * Intracranial lesion * Cardiovascular disorders, including heart disorders or high blood pressure \[\>155/95\] * Breathing problems such as severe asthma, emphysema, or pulmonary disease * Bleeding disorder, or use of anticoagulants * Bladder obstruction, urinary problems, or history of impaired elimination * Known kidney or liver problems * Past severe COVID-19 infection * Intestinal blockage * Raynaud syndrome * Anemia * Peripheral nerve injury * Diabetes * Glaucoma * Current or recent use of medications (neurological or psychiatric) affecting brain function * Current or past history of major medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition * Current or past history of chronic pain (assessed at the discretion of PI) * Current smoker * Body mass index above 35 * Research-related radiation exposure exceeds current Radiology Department guidelines * Lack of current health insurance coverage * Employed under the direct supervision of the investigators conducting the research * Unwilling or unable to cooperate with breathing maneuvers required during the gas challenge * Respiratory or cardiac limitations to breathing at 20 L/min

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Healthy

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

    Charlestown, Massachusetts, 02129, United States

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