The Neurocognitive Bases of Trust in Intellectual Disability (NCT07434037) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
The Neurocognitive Bases of Trust in Intellectual Disability
France112 participantsStarted 2026-02
Plain-language summary
This project studies the neurocognitive basis of trust adjustment in intellectual disability (ID), a source of significant vulnerability for these patients, focusing on two target populations chosen for their specific social characteristics: people with Down syndrome, who are often described as being hypersocial, and people with Fragile X syndrome, who are often characterized by a completely opposite social behaviour profile, with a withdrawn attitude and significant social anxiety.
The three different types of mechanisms that contribute to the adjustment of interpersonal trust: affective evaluation, trait attribution, and epistemic evaluation of informants, will be studied. Affective evaluation processes recruit subcortical structures such as the amygdala and assess potential social threats in the environment. The second mechanism for selecting whom to trust consists of forming a representation of a person's dispositions, such as benevolence and competence (also known as traits), and using it to predict that person's future behaviour. Trait attribution processes recruit a cortico-cerebellar network comprising the mPFC, CRUS I and posterior lobule VI. The third mechanism, called epistemic vigilance, allows to adjust our trust in what others communicate to us. This mechanism involves linking the assessment of the reliability of individuals who communicate (based on their benevolence and competence) with the reliability of the communicated information. Epistemic assessment involves frontal areas and areas associated with the representation of mental states in order to enable the evaluation of the truthfulness of the communicated information. All of these mechanisms become functional very early on, before a child's sixth birthday. There are reasons to expect that several of these central mechanisms supporting selective trust will behave atypically in intellectual disability.
Who can participate
Age range
3 Years – 29 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 :
Group of Down Syndrom patients
* Complete chromosomal trisomy of the 21st chromosome confirmed by karyotype analysis
* Aged 13 to 29 (chronological age)
* French as their native language
* Having signed an informed consent form and/or whose legal guardians/patient representatives have signed the informed consent form
* Affiliated with the French health insurance system (social security) or whose legal guardians are affiliated with the French health insurance system
Group of X-Fragile Syndrome
* Complete mutation of the FMR1 gene by molecular analysis (more than 200 CGG triplet repeats)
* Aged between 13 and 29 (chronological age)
* Native French speakers
* Having signed an informed consent form and/or whose legal guardians/patient representatives have signed the informed consent form
* Affiliated with the French health insurance system (social security) or whose legal guardians are affiliated with the French health insurance system
Group of chronological age-matched control
* Aged between 13 and 29
* Native French speakers.
* Having signed an informed consent form and/or whose legal guardians/patient representatives have signed the informed consent form
* Affiliated with the French health insurance system (social security) or whose legal guardians are affiliated with the French health insurance system
Group of mental age-matched control
* Aged between 3 and 9
* Native French speakers.
* Whose legal guardians/patient representatives have signed the…
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
1
Error rate (percentage) for each of the four paradigms.
Timeframe: Day 1
2
Response time (millisecond) for two of the four paradigms.
Timeframe: Day 1
3
Analysis of visual strategies for eye-tracking experiments.