RecruitingNot Applicable

Optimizing Dimensions of Reinforcement

United States30 participantsStarted 2024-10-07

Plain-language summary

This study is designed to better understand how certain features of reinforcement affect learning and motivation in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Participants will take part in a series of structured teaching sessions that involve simple tasks and reward-based feedback. By changing the timing and amount of rewards, we aim to learn how these factors influence the ability to acquire and maintain new skills. This information may help improve behavioral interventions for individuals with IDD in the future. The study does not involve medications or procedures intended to change participants' health status.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Years – 17 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: At least 6 years of age Documented neurodevelopmental condition Engagement in problem behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction) that can be measured during study sessions Ability to follow simple instructions Ability to participate in tabletop choice-based tasks Availability to complete all scheduled study sessions Provision of informed consent by participant or legally authorized representative Exclusion Criteria: Severe sensory or motor impairments that would prevent participation in tabletop tasks Current or recent participation (within the past 30 days) in another interventional behavioral research study that could interfere with study outcomes Medical or behavioral conditions judged by investigators to pose a safety risk or interfere with data collection

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

Change in rate of behavior across schedules

Timeframe: 3 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07137273

SponsorAuburn University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-08

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79) trials