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Evaluating the Neurocomputational Mechanisms of Explore-Exploit Decision Making in Older Adults
NCT05178381 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
The full experiment involves participants coming into the lab on five separate occasions for neuropsychological testing, a decision making battery, functional and structural MRI, and two TMS sessions for stimulation of the target or control stimulation site. The clinical trial component concerns only the last two sessions where subjects will be randomly assigned to different groups to receive different TMS interventions. In particular, the TMS experiments will ask two main questions: 1. What is the causal role of frontal pole in explore-exploit behavior in younger and older adults? 2. What is the causal role of IFG in explore-exploit behavior in younger and older adults? The investigators will use continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS, Huang et al. 2005) to inhibit neural activity in each region for approximately 50 minutes (Wischnewski \& Schutter, 2015) and measure the downstream effects on behavior in younger and older adults. Consistent with their respective roles in the explore-exploit circuit (Figure 5 in Research Strategy), the investigators predict that inhibition of frontal pole will lead to a selective reduction in directed, but not random, exploration, while inhibition of IFG will decrease exploitation and lead to increases in both types of exploration. Participants in each age group will be pseudo-randomly assigned to either the frontal pole group or IFG group such that the study will have 42 participants (21 males, 21 females) in each group. Thus there will be four distinct groups of subjects older frontal pole, younger frontal pole, older IFG, younger IFG. Each participant will take part in two TMS sessions, one target and one control session. The order of sessions will be counterbalanced across subjects. The primary endpoints of the study are to determine whether: 1. cTBS applied to frontal pole inhibits directed exploration within the younger and older groups 2. cTBS applied to IFG promotes both directed and random expl
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE Continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation
Study Locations (1)
Arizona
- University of Arizona — Tucson
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 248 participants |
| Start Date | 2022-10-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2024-08-01 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT05178381
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT05178381 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 248 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Arizona, which has 379 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Healthy Aging appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention — of which Continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT05178381 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Arizona. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT05178381 about?
NCT05178381 is a clinical study titled "Evaluating the Neurocomputational Mechanisms of Explore-Exploit Decision Making in Older Adults". The full experiment involves participants coming into the lab on five separate occasions for neuropsychological testing, a decision making battery, functional and structural MRI, and two TMS sessions for stimulation of the target or control stimulation site. The clinical trial component concerns onl...
What is the current status of trial NCT05178381?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 248 participants. The study started on 2022-10-01. Estimated completion is 2024-08-01.
What conditions does trial NCT05178381 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Healthy Aging. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT05178381?
The interventions under investigation include: Continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (DEVICE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05178381?
This trial is sponsored by University of Arizona, which has 379 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT05178381 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Arizona. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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