Protocol Number: 03-M-0186

Title:

The Psychobiology of Temperament: An fMRI Study

Number:

03-M-0186

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to examine brain changes that occur in children when they are exposed to various kinds of emotional tasks and to determine if these changes are related to the child's temperament.

Studies suggest that the risk for developing mood and anxiety disorders in preschool children may be linked to differences in temperament. The relationship between temperament and risk or resilience may reflect the influences of brain activity on behavior at different stages of childhood development. Behavioral inhibition and mood or anxiety disorders have been linked to disturbances in the circuitry of several areas in the brain. However, the involvement of this circuitry in temperament remains unclear. This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the function of different parts of the brain in children who have previously undergone temperament studies and have had their temperaments classified.

This study will comprise three clinic visits. At Visit 1, children and their parents will meet with study staff individually and together for psychiatric interviews. Children will undergo a physical examination, medical history, a urine drug test, and practice in an fMRI simulator. Saliva samples will be collected from the children and tests will be given to assess stage of puberty, temperament, intelligence, feelings, experiences, and behavior. Other visits include fMRI scans of the brain and other tasks.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Age: 9-16

Consent: Can give consent/assent. Parents will provide consent for all minors.

IQ: All subjects will have IQ greater than 70. Assessment relies on WASI.

Psychopathology: All subjects will be free of lifetime history of psychosis and pervasive developmental disorder. Assessment relies on comprehensive psychiatric interview.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Any chronic or acute medical condition severe enough to interfere with task performance or completion of questionnaires.

Any medical condition that increases risk for MRI (e.g. pacemaker, metallic foreign body in eye, dental braces).

Any current axis I psychiatric disorder necessitating acute treatment. Psychiatric assessment with K-SADS and consultation with family.

Claustrophia.

Any substance use disorder.

Any current psychoactive treatment.

Psychotropic medication.

Pregnancy.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

fMRI

Emotion

Children

Adolescence

Affective Neuroscience

Neuroimaging

Behavioral Inhibition

Depression

Anxiety

Recruitment Keywords:

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Children

Conditions:

Mood Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Adolescents

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:

Berns GS, McClure SM, Pagnoni G, Montague PR. Related Articles, Links Predictability modulates human brain response to reward. J Neurosci. 2001 Apr 15;21(8):2793-8 PMID: 11306631

Biederman J, Rosenbaum JF, Hirshfeld DR, Faraone SV, Bolduc EA, Gersten M, Meminger SR, Kagan J, Snidman N, Reznick JS. Psychiatric correlates of behavioral inhibition in young children of parents with and without psychiatric disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1990 Jan;47(1):21-6. PMID: 2294852

Birbaumer N, Grodd W, Diedrich O, Klose U, Erb M, Lotze M, Schneider F, Weiss U, Flor H. fMRI reveals amygdala activation to human faces in social phobics. Neuroreport. 1998 Apr 20;9(6):1223-6. PMID: 9601698

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