Back to search results

Understanding Brain Flexibility in Schizophrenia and ADHD

This study uses high-resolution fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to understand how a part of your brain called the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus helps with flexible thinking and behavior. You would perform computerized tasks that test your working memory, ability to control your thoughts, and make decisions while undergoing an MRI scan. Researchers want to see how the MD thalamus handles "context" – the mental rules that guide your actions. This research could help explain why people with conditions like schizophrenia and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) sometimes have trouble with flexible thinking. The study aims to enroll 100 participants aged 18-35 who are fluent in English and have no history of neurological or psychiatric conditions that could affect thinking. The study's status is currently unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 100 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
You would perform computerized cognitive tasks while undergoing a high-resolution 7-Tesla fMRI scan. The MRI session is approximately 90 minutes long.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint, decoding of context representations, is measured throughout the MRI session (approximately 90 minutes).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07217652

Investigating Mediodorsal Thalamus Representations Underlying Human Cognitive Flexibility

Recruiting
NAAges 18–35InterventionalBasic science
Kai Hwang
~100 participants
Updated 2026-02-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:High-resolution fMRI during working memory, cognitive control, and decision-making tasks

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Decoding of context representations in the medial dorsal thalamus from 7 T MRI data
Measured over Measured throughout the MRI session (approximately 90 minutes per participant).

Conditions

Schizophrenia
Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity (ADHD)

Explore related trials

Healthy Volunteers

NCT07217652

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • The University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Who to contact

Kai Hwang, PhD
[email protected]
319-335-2406
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

No history of any neurological, psychiatric, or medical condition that could affect cognition
No use of benzodiazepines, long-acting opioids, or other psychotropic drugs that could alter cognitive performance
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (visual acuity)
Normal color perception (Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test)
Fluent in English
No metal implants (including aneurysm clip, cardiac pacemaker, ICD, IUD, neurostimulation system, spinal cord stimulator, internal electrodes or wires, bone stimulator, ear implant, insulin or other infusion pump or device, prosthesis, artificial or prosthetic limb, shunt, vascular access port or catheter, thermodilution catheter, medication patch, radiation seeds or implants, wire mesh implant, tissue expander, surgical staples or clips or sutures, joint replacement, joint/bone pin/screw/nail/wire/plate, dentures, or non-removable hearing aid)
No exposure to shrapnel or other-related MR contraindications
No non-removable body piercing jewelry
No non-removable makeup
No history of claustrophobia
No history of breathing problems
Not currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant (this will be determined via self report and no records will be kept).

Exclusion

Has a history of any neurological, psychiatric, or medical condition that could affect cognition
Use of benzodiazepines, long-acting opioids, or other psychotropic drugs that could alter cognitive performance
Not fluent in English
Known metal implants (including aneurysm clip, cardiac pacemaker, ICD, IUD, neurostimulation system, spinal cord stimulator, internal electrodes or wires, bone stimulator, ear implant, insulin or other infusion pump or device, prosthesis, artificial or prosthetic limb, shunt, vascular access port or catheter, thermodilution catheter, medication patch, radiation seeds or implants, wire mesh implant, tissue expander, surgical staples or clips or sutures, joint replacement, joint/bone pin/screw/nail/wire/plate, dentures, or non-removable hearing aid)
History of claustrophobia
Currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant (this will be determined via self report and no records will be kept).

What this trial measures

  • Decoding of context representations in the medial dorsal thalamus from 7 T MRI dataMeasured throughout the MRI session (approximately 90 minutes per participant).

    This outcome measure will quantify the extent to which multivariate patterns of brain activity in the MD thalamus encode task context. High-resolution 7-Tesla fMRI data will be analyzed using computational modeling and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) techniques. The primary metric will be decoding accuracy, expressed as a percentage ranging from 0% to 100%. Decoding accuracy reflects how well task contexts for working memory, cognitive control, and decision-making can be predicted from MD thalamic activity patterns. A value of 0% indicates chance-level or poor performance, while 100% indicates perfect prediction accuracy. For each participant, decoding accuracy will be computed as a single value using the same unit of measure (percentage accuracy). This value will reflect the overall ability to decode task context from MD activity and thus serves as the primary measure of this research study.