CompletedNot Applicable

Brain's Response to Chocolate

United States20 participantsStarted 2018-01-17

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this study is to test how the brain responds when individuals eat enjoyable foods such as chocolate. Eating certain foods can make one want to keep eating even when feeling full, caused by dopamine in the brain. The researchers believe this dopamine response can be measured by looking at the individual's eye.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 50 Years

Sex

ALL

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: * body mass index 20-30 kg/m2 * free of any major illness or disease Exclusion Criteria: * food allergies * participation in a weight loss diet or exercise program * pregnancy * lactation * metabolic illness or disease (diabetes, renal failure, thyroid illness, hypertension) * eye illness or disease (narrow angle glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataracts) * psychiatric, neurological or eating disorders (schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, epilepsy, anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa) * take prescription medications except for oral contraceptives or antihyperlipidemia agents

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.

What they're measuring

Retinal dopamine response to oral stimuli

Timeframe: 30 minutes

Psychoactive Effects Questionnaire in response to oral stimuli

Timeframe: 30 minutes

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03364413

SponsorUSDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Sponsor typeFED

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2018-03-02

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Overweight trials