Trial Outcomes & Findings for Novel in Vivo Synaptic Imaging in Experienced Meditators (NCT NCT05418608)

NCT ID: NCT05418608

Last Updated: 2026-06-10

Results Overview

Imaging data was analyzed using kinetic modeling approaches to quantitate total tracer binding, volume of distribution, and binding potential, specifically voxel-by-voxel compartment model fitting with the arterial input function. Positron emission tomography (PET) images will be registered to the subject's T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, and then registered to an magnetic resonance template. Gray matter regions of interest are determined by combining a predefined set of regions, defined on the template (FreeSurfer) with the gray matter segmentation mask (FAST algorithm in FSL). This process will permit direct, automatic determination of outcome values. Partial volume correction will also be applied to account for atrophy. Magnetic resonance (MR) image analyses will be done by standardized methods. Values reported for each region represent the binding potential. Binding potential is a unitless measure.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1

Target enrollment

40 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Up to 6 months

Results posted on

2026-06-10

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Meditators
A PET study of the novel SV2A imaging tracer \[11C\]UCB-J in participants, to characterize the distribution of \[11C\]UCB-J in cortical and subcortical areas in experienced meditators compared to non-meditating controls. Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions. Radiotracer: A novel SV2A imaging tracer which is used in conjunction with positron emission tomography scans.
Non-meditating Controls
Meditators compared to non-meditating controls. Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions. Radiotracer: A novel SV2A imaging tracer which is used in conjunction with positron emission tomography scans.
Overall Study
STARTED
20
20
Overall Study
COMPLETED
20
20
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Novel in Vivo Synaptic Imaging in Experienced Meditators

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Meditators
n=20 Participants
A PET study of the novel SV2A imaging tracer \[11C\]UCB-J in participants, to characterize the distribution of \[11C\]UCB-J in cortical and subcortical areas in experienced meditators compared to non-meditating controls. Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions. Radiotracer: A novel SV2A imaging tracer which is used in conjunction with positron emission tomography scans.
Non-meditating Controls
n=20 Participants
Meditators compared to non-meditating controls. Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions. Radiotracer: A novel SV2A imaging tracer which is used in conjunction with positron emission tomography scans.
Total
n=40 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
57 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.8 • n=9 Participants
54.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8 • n=27 Participants
55.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.4 • n=267 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
12 Participants
n=9 Participants
11 Participants
n=27 Participants
23 Participants
n=267 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants
n=9 Participants
9 Participants
n=27 Participants
17 Participants
n=267 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=9 Participants
2 Participants
n=27 Participants
3 Participants
n=267 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
18 Participants
n=9 Participants
17 Participants
n=27 Participants
35 Participants
n=267 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
n=9 Participants
1 Participants
n=27 Participants
2 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
2 Participants
n=9 Participants
1 Participants
n=27 Participants
3 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=9 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
0 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=9 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
0 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=9 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
0 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
16 Participants
n=9 Participants
16 Participants
n=27 Participants
32 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=9 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
0 Participants
n=267 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
n=9 Participants
3 Participants
n=27 Participants
5 Participants
n=267 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
20 participants
n=9 Participants
20 participants
n=27 Participants
40 participants
n=267 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to 6 months

Imaging data was analyzed using kinetic modeling approaches to quantitate total tracer binding, volume of distribution, and binding potential, specifically voxel-by-voxel compartment model fitting with the arterial input function. Positron emission tomography (PET) images will be registered to the subject's T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, and then registered to an magnetic resonance template. Gray matter regions of interest are determined by combining a predefined set of regions, defined on the template (FreeSurfer) with the gray matter segmentation mask (FAST algorithm in FSL). This process will permit direct, automatic determination of outcome values. Partial volume correction will also be applied to account for atrophy. Magnetic resonance (MR) image analyses will be done by standardized methods. Values reported for each region represent the binding potential. Binding potential is a unitless measure.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Meditators
n=20 Participants
A PET study of the novel SV2A imaging tracer \[11C\]UCB-J in participants, to characterize the distribution of \[11C\]UCB-J in cortical and subcortical areas in experienced meditators compared to non-meditating controls. Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions. Radiotracer: A novel SV2A imaging tracer which is used in conjunction with positron emission tomography scans.
Non-meditating Controls
n=20 Participants
Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions.
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
cerebral cortex
4.75 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.45
5.23 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.71
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
amygdala
3.58 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.33
4.01 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.49
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
hippocampus
2.40 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.28
2.74 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.49
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
Anterior Cingulate Cortex
4.94 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.58
5.46 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.77
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
Posterior cingulate cortex
4.48 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.40
4.82 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.66
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
Anterior cingulate cortex
4.94 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.58
5.46 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.77
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
Insula
4.47 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.50
4.87 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.68
Binding Potential Using Synaptic Density
thalamus
2.33 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.23
2.60 binding potential
Standard Deviation 0.37

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to 3 months

Meditation assessments collected from participants, containing mindfulness and attention measures, will be correlated with synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2A) binding data, collected during a positron emission tomography scan in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Data presented here is the correlation between Meditation years to SV2A availability.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Meditators
n=20 Participants
A PET study of the novel SV2A imaging tracer \[11C\]UCB-J in participants, to characterize the distribution of \[11C\]UCB-J in cortical and subcortical areas in experienced meditators compared to non-meditating controls. Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions. Radiotracer: A novel SV2A imaging tracer which is used in conjunction with positron emission tomography scans.
Non-meditating Controls
Subjects will undergo one PET scan with \[11C\]UCB-J and one MRI scan for anatomical identification of brain regions.
Evaluating the Correlation Between Data Collected From Meditation Questionnaires and Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2 (SV2A) Binding
-0.44 correlation coefficient

Adverse Events

Meditators

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Non-meditating Controls

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

David Matuskey

Yale University

Phone: (203) 737-6316

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place