The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to compare how the brains of adolescents and adults are activated during tasks that involve emotional responses.

Evidence suggests that adolescents and adults experience activation in similar brain regions when they engage in tasks that involve the processing of emotional stimuli. However, the degree of task-associated activation may differ between adolescents and adults. This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare brain activation patterns in adolescents and adults. This study will also be used to develop emotion-evoking fMRI tasks to determine whether there are puberty and age-linked components of brain development.

Condition
Mood Disorder Neurobehavioral Manifestation Healthy

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  356

The goal of this project is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare the degree to which brain regions of adolescents and adults are engaged by tasks involving the processing of emotionally salient stimuli. Based on developmental continuities in the relevant psychological processes, we anticipate considerable similarity across age groups in the topography of brain regions engaged by relevant tasks. However, we hypothesize that developmental differences in cortico-limbic circuits of adolescents and adults will be reflected in patterns of fMRI activation. Specifically, we hypothesize in both adults and adolescents that attention and memory tasks involving the processing of emotionally salient stimuli will engage the amygdala, cingulated gyrus, and association cortex of medial/inferior prefrontal cortex and temporal regions. Nevertheless, height of task-associated activation is hypothesized to differ between adolescents and adults within these regions. Moreover, prior studies distinguish puberty vs. age-related aspects of cognitive development: some aspects of attention or memory development relate to changes in chronological age whereas other aspects, particularly those involving emotional processes, relate to pubertal status. Therefore, we expect eventually to use emotion-evoking fMRI tasks to test hypotheses on the presence of complementary, distinguishable puberty vs. age-linked components of brain development. Due to the limited fMRI database on neurodevelopmental aspects of emotional processes, one initial goal of the current project is to compare brain activation pattern in adults and adolescents, irrespective of pubertal status. A second initial goal is to generate behavioral data in adults and adolescents designed to inform the implementation of future fMRI tasks. Studies accomplishing both goals will facilitate eventual studies designed to distinguish puberty vs. age-related aspects of brain development.

To meet these initial goals, the current project implemented two sets of studies during Year I. First, brain activation profiles were compared in adolescents and adults using a face-emotion viewing fMRI paradigm. Second, neuropsychological data were gathered to facilitate the development of new fMRI tasks. During Year II, the protocol will conduct studies to extend initial finding in these areas. A total of 30 psychiatrically healthy adolescents and 30 psychiatrically healthy adults will be studied with event-related fMRI using two previously developed neuropsychological tasks: a face-emotion processing task and an affective picture-processing task. Both tasks extend paradigms successfully implemented in Year I, one in the laboratory and the other in the MRI scanner. We hypothesize that both tasks will engage the amygdala, cingulated gyrus, and association cortices of the medial/inferior prefrontal and temporal regions in both adolescents and adults. However, we hypothesize that adolescents and adults will differ in the height of engagement in these regions. Finally, 45 adolescents and 45 adults also will be studied outside of the MRI scanner using neuro-psychological tests involving the interface between cognitive and emotional processes. These data will be used to refine understandings at the behavioral level of developmental differences in emotional processes and to inform the development of new fMRI tasks.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Age: 9-17 (adolescents); 20-40 (adults).
Consent: can give consent/assent. Parents will provide consent for all minors.
IQ: all subjects will have an IQ greater than 70. Assessment relies on WASI.
Psychopathology: all subjects will be free of any current psychiatric disorder as well as lifetime history of psychosis, pervasive developmental disorder, major affective disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, conduct disorder, ADHD, anorexia. Assessment relies on comprehensive psychiatric interview.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Any medical condition that increases risk for MRI (e.g. pacemaker, metallic foreign body in eye).
Pregnancy.

Maryland
      National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  010152; 01-M-0152
Record last reviewed:  July 6, 2004
Last Updated:  November 23, 2004
Record first received:  May 31, 2001
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00016731
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08