Dopamine Function and Reward Processing In Schizophrenia

Study Summary

Background: \- Schizophrenia is associated with cognitive impairment in different parts of the brain, including those associated with learning and memory. The brain activity associated with these impairments, however, is poorly understood. Researchers are interested in studying how the brain chemical dopamine, which is involved in responding to incentives and rewards like money or food, works differently in the brains of people who have schizophrenia. Objectives: \- To study reward processing in individuals with schizophrenia who are taking different types of medication, compared with healthy volunteers. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 18 and 55 years of age who (a) have been diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and are taking the antipsychotic medication clozapine, (b), have been diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and are taking a different second-generation antipsychotic, or (c) are healthy volunteers. Design: * This study will involve one screening visit and one or more visits for testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. During the screening visit, participants will complete questionnaires and provide information about their physical and psychological health. * Participants will receive training in the tasks to be performed at the scanning sessions during the screening visit. * During the fMRI scans, participants will complete one or two of four possible reward-based tasks: * A task that enables participants to win money based on their response to a target item. * A task that provides small amounts of juice over specific time intervals, followed by a procedure to be completed outside the scanner. * A task that involves choosing figures or shapes and winning money based on responses. * A game of chance involving predictions based on shapes shown on a screen. * Participants will also provide blood samples for research and testing.

Conditions Studied

Study Locations (2)