Hippocampal Memory Circuits in Delusions

Summary

This study will investigate dentate gyrus (DG) and hippocampal CA3 sub field function, using the pattern separation paradigm, as reflected by the difference in brain activation in response to same-as-previously- seen (OLD) vs. similar-to-previously-seen (SIM) objects in first episode psychosis (FEP) subjects before and after anti psychotic treatment and in matched healthy controls (HC). The current study uses three novel high-resolution task-based and post-encoding resting fMRI measures to probe hippocampal circuitry in delusions. It will also study CA1 function, using a sequential associative mismatch paradigm, as reflected by activation of CA1 in response to mismatching information compared to memory of that stimulus in FEP subjects before and after antipsychotic treatment and in matched HC. Finally, this study will evaluate plasticity of hippocampal intrinsic functional connectivity (IFC) in response to memory consolidation, using an encoding-plasticity paradigm, in FEP subjects before and after anti psychotic treatment and in matched HC. For each of the three imaging projects, a total of 50 FEP subjects and 50 matched healthy controls (HC) will be studied; hence, 300 subjects will be studied over 5 years. Within each paradigm, medication-naive FEP subjects will be studied at baseline and 8 weeks after starting anti psychotic medication. HC participants will be studied at baseline and 8 weeks later but will not receive any treatment.

Conditions

• Psychosis

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pattern Separation Paradigm

Will be used to investigate dentate gyrus (DG) and hippocampal CA3 subfield as reflected by the difference in brain activation in response to same as previously seen (OLD) vs similar to previously seen (SIM) objects in first episode (FEP) subjects before and after treatment.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Sequential Associative Mismatch Paradigm

used to reflect activation of CA1 in response to mismatching information compared to memory of the stimulus in FEP subjects before and after antipsychotic treatment and in matched Healthy Control (HC).

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Encoding Plasticity Paradigm

Used to evaluate plasticity of hippocampal Intrinsic Functional Connectivity (IFC) in response to memory consolidation in FEP subjects before and after antipsychotic treatment and in matched HC.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  collaborator NIH

• NYU Langone Health

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Donald Goff, MD · NYU Langone Health

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-07-13

Primary Completion

2023-08-12

Completion

2023-08-12

Countries

• United States
• China

Study Locations