NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 02-N-0182

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
Quantitative fMRI in Children and Adults Using Arterial Spin Tagging Techniques
Number:
02-N-0182
Summary:
This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine how blood flow to the brain differs at different ages with the brain is at rest, and during performance of tasks that involve language, memory, motor control, and sight. The study will evaluate the usefulness of MRI in identifying language function and location, and may provide information on how the brain develops over time to process brain functions, such as language and memory.

Healthy normal volunteers in three age groups-children 8-10, adolescents 13-16, and young adults 21-30-may be eligible for this study. Participants must be right-handed and be native English speakers. Candidates will be screened via a telephone interview and examination by a neurologist.

Participants will undergo MRI scanning of the brain during rest or while performing a task designed to test a skill. The tasks may involve remembering numbers, reading a word, tapping fingers, or looking at a flashing picture. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce pictures of the brain. For the procedure, the subject lies still on a table that is moved into the scanner (a cylinder containing the magnet). Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises caused by electrical switching of radio frequency circuits used in the scanning process. Adults may spend as long as 90 minutes in the scanner, usually less than 45 minutes. For children, the time is less than 75 minutes-usually 30 to 40 minutes. Participants may be asked to repeat the scans up to 5 times in different sessions to test different brain functions or confirm findings.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Right-handed (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory)

Native English speaker (for language and memory paradigms only)

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures (e.g. no braces, pacemakers, cochlear devices, surgical clips, etc..)

History of neurologic or psychiatric disease or a learning or attentional disorder

One year below grade level

CNS active medications

Pregnancy

Claustrophobia

Inability to comply with the protocol

Volunteers will also be asked if they have a history of dry or irritated eyes and informed this may increase the risk of eye irritation and discomfort in the 3T scanner.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Imaging
Pediatrics
Brain
Mapping
Development
Recruitment Keywords:
Healthy Volunteer
HV
Normal Control
Conditions:
Healthy
Investigational Drug(s):
None
Investigational Device(s):
None

Contacts:
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:
Barnes PD Imaging of the central nervous system in pediatrics and adolescencePediatr Clin North Am 1992 Aug;39(4):743-76 ReviewPMID: 1635805

Braver TS, Cohen JD, Nystrom LE, Jonides J, Smith EE, Noll DC A parametric study of prefrontal cortex involvement in human working memoryNeuroimage 1997 Jan;5(1):49-62PMID: 9038284

Belliveau JW, Kennedy DN Jr, McKinstry RC, Buchbinder BR, Weisskoff RM,Cohen MS, Vevea JM, Brady TJ, Rosen BR Functional mapping of the human visual cortex by magnetic resonance imagingScience 1991 Nov 1;254(5032):716-9PMID: 1948051

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

If you have:


Command Menu Bar

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home


Clinical Center LogoWarren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 10/26/2004

Search The Studies Help Questions