Reward System Responses to Food Aromas (NCT02041039) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Reward System Responses to Food Aromas
United States332 participantsStarted 2011-04-15
Plain-language summary
Food aromas are a part of foods' flavor, and can promote overeating. Alcohol consumption also stimulates appetite, and contributes to overeating while under alcohol's acute effects. Knowing the brain regions that respond to food aromas and alcohol, and how they are modified by the amount of body fat and alcohol exposure, will provide critical information about the neural systems that underlie loss of control of eating. Therefore, the main hypotheses of this study are that: A) Lean and obese subjects have different brain responses to food aromas that enhance desire to eat, and B) Acute alcohol intoxication i) enhances the brain's response to food odors, and ii) affects brain systems that inhibit or terminate eating. To test these hypotheses, we have modified functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms successfully used to study alcoholic drink aromas in subjects at risk for alcoholism.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 40 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* non smoking, right handed women 18-40 years
* good health without self reported neurological or psychiatric disorder
* no indication of eating disorders
* normal sense of smell
Exclusion Criteria:
* pregnant,/breast feeding women
* history of drug abuse/dependence, positive drug screen for amphetamines/methamphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates or PCP
* DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders or head injury with loss of consciousness
* contraindications to MRI (ferrous material, claustrophobia)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.