Healthy brains scanned twice to test reliability of imaging methods
NCT ID NCT02193425
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · Updated 11 times
Summary
This study looked at how consistent brain scans are when repeated in healthy adults. 112 volunteers had MRI and PET scans to measure brain connections and activity. The goal was to improve future research on brain diseases by understanding normal brain function and scan reliability.
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
-
Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
-
112 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jun 2015
- Finished
-
May 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: All Participants: * Older than 18 years of age. * Ability to provide written informed consent as determined by physical examination and verbal communication. Capacity to consent will be determined by those obtaining the informed consent EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Pregnant or breast feeding. Females of childbearing potential must have negative urine pregnancy test and not be currently breastfeeding. Post-menopausal or surgically sterile (tubal ligation or hysterectomy) females satisfy these criteria. * The following current chronically used (within 2 months of study procedures) psychoactive medications or medications that can affect brain function (including but not limited to meperidine, tricyclic antidpressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), stimulant or stimulant-like medications (amphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil); opioid analgesics; antianginal agents; antiarrhythmics; systemic corticosteroids; anticholinergics; anticoagulants; anticonvulsants; antihistamines (sedating); beta blocker antihypertensives; antineoplastics; antiobesity; antipsychotics; anxiolytics (benzodiazepine or barbiturates); lithium; muscle relaxants, and systemic steroids as determined by history and clinical exam. * Current or past DSM-IV or DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder as determined by history and clinical exam including substance use disorder (except for nicotine/caffeine), alcoholism and alcohol dependence. Past history of a mental disorder as defined by DSM-IV or DSM-5 will be excluded only if it required hospitalization (any length), or chronic medication management (more than 4 weeks), and that could impact brain function at the time of the study. * Those with a binge drinking history every month continuously for the last 10 years will also be excluded. Binge drinkers are those who being female consume 4 or more drinks and males consume 5 or more drinks in one occasion at least once a month. * Major medical problems that can impact brain function at the time of the scan (including but not limited to HIV; central nervous system including seizures and psychosis; cardiovascular including hypertension and arrhythmias; metabolic, autoimmune, endocrine) as determined by history and clinical exam. Participants aged 60 and older with any medical problems that are controlled will not be excluded. * Any clinically significant laboratory finding as determined during the screening procedures. * Have had previous radiation exposure (from X-rays, PET scans, or other exposure) that, with the exposure from this study, would exceed NIH annual research limits. * Head trauma with loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes. * Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body that are contraindicated for MRI/MRS of the head (pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses, permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pump, or shrapnel fragments), fear of enclosed spaces, or other standard contraindication to MRI/MRS (self-report checklist). * Cannot lie comfortably flat on back for up to 2 hours in the PET and MRI/MRS scanners. * Body weight \> 250 kg. This is the upper limit that the bed of the MR scanner can accommodate. * NIH employees who are study investigators, as well as their superiors, subordinates and immediate family members (adult children, spouses, parents, siblings). * Non-English speakers (subjects must be able to read and comprehend English). * Subjects will not be excluded from enrollment onto this study if their urine test is positive for drugs. However, if they test positive on scheduled study procedure days involving study imaging (MRI/MRS and PET) and Neuropsychological testing, the procedures will be postponed and rescheduled. We will allow for up to 3 rescheduled study days that were the result of positive urine drug screens. If the drug test is positive on the third rescheduled visit, the participant will be withdrawn from the study. The intent of the research has no prospect of direct benefit to the subject. Therefore, we are excluding non-English speakers in this research study since it includes the administration of questionnaires, surveys and assessments that are validated for English, although some are available in Spanish.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Normal physiology are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Your pupils reveal how light shapes sleep—and why age and sex matter
- Healthy donors needed for research sample bank
- Nicotine's brain impact on depression under the microscope
- Scientists lock volunteers in rooms to measure how many calories they burn after eating
- Brain test could revolutionize alcohol addiction treatment
- Scientists probe Brain's pain matrix in healthy volunteers