Using EEG Operant Conditioning to Improve Trait Self-Control and Promote Healthy Behavior

Sponsor

University of Rochester (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT01801254

Collaborator

(none)

Enrollment

Location

Arms

Duration (Months)

0.7

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The field of neuroeconomics has begun to elucidate neural mechanisms underlying self-control; however, researchers have not yet harnessed neuroeconomics findings to develop interventions for improving self-control ability. The investigators are currently developing such an intervention. The investigators' approach involves using a brain-computer interface with audiovisual feedback to show people what is happening in their own brains, in real time. Through this interface, individuals are trained to increase levels of neural activity that may facilitate self-control, which, in turn, may improve the ability to exhibit self-controlled behaviors. This may increase the ability to engage in heath behaviors for which self-control is required (eg, dieting and exercising). The investigators' long-term goal is to create a tool that will help people develop the self-control needed to achieve lasting improvements in health behaviors.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Obesity Type II Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Health Behavior	Other: STRIDES Other: Sham Control	Phase 1

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

16 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Parallel Assignment

Masking:

Single (Participant)

Primary Purpose:

Prevention

Official Title:

Using EEG Operant Conditioning to Improve Trait Self-Control and Promote Healthy Behavior

Study Start Date :

Feb 1, 2013

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Aug 1, 2013

Actual Study Completion Date :

Feb 1, 2015

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: STRIDES Brain-computer interface training protocol designed to up-regulate specific types of neural activity in regions including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and Brodmann area 6 bilaterally. Targeted neural activity types are positively associated with self-controlled behavior.	Other: STRIDES Self-Control TRaining for Increasing Delay of gratification through EEG operant conditioning with Source localization (STRIDES). Brain-computer interface training protocol designed to up-regulate specific types of neural activity, in regions including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and Brodmann area 6 bilaterally. Targeted neural activity types are positively associated with self-controlled behavior.
Sham Comparator: Sham Control Brain-computer interface training protocol that is designed to have no effect on self-controlled behavior. Stimuli used and durations of training sessions for this protocol are identical to those used in the treatment condition.	Other: Sham Control Brain-computer interface training protocol that is designed to have no effect on self-controlled behavior.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: STRIDES

Brain-computer interface training protocol designed to up-regulate specific types of neural activity in regions including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and Brodmann area 6 bilaterally. Targeted neural activity types are positively associated with self-controlled behavior.

Other: STRIDES

Self-Control TRaining for Increasing Delay of gratification through EEG operant conditioning with Source localization (STRIDES). Brain-computer interface training protocol designed to up-regulate specific types of neural activity, in regions including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and Brodmann area 6 bilaterally. Targeted neural activity types are positively associated with self-controlled behavior.

Sham Comparator: Sham Control

Brain-computer interface training protocol that is designed to have no effect on self-controlled behavior. Stimuli used and durations of training sessions for this protocol are identical to those used in the treatment condition.

Other: Sham Control

Brain-computer interface training protocol that is designed to have no effect on self-controlled behavior.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

postprandial blood glucose and triglycerides [4 times per week for 4 weeks]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and Older

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

Can read and write fluently in English
At least 18 years of age
Right-handed
Overweight or obese (BMI > 24.9)
Currently has a University of Rochester meal plan
Currently in contemplation or action stages of change with respect to weight loss (measured with the Weight Stages of Change Algorithm; Rossi, Rossi, Velicer, & Prochaska, 1995).

Exclusion Criteria:

History of diabetes, epilepsy, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, food allergies, veganism, mental illness, or eating disorders
Currently taking a medication that may have a strong effect on EEG recordings (eg, an antidepressant, stimulant medication, etc.)
Currently drinks more than 3 cups of coffee per day or roughly equivalent caffeine intake