Actively Recruiting
The Computational and Neural Mechanisms Linking Decision-making and Memory in Humans
Led by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Updated on 2025-12-17
50
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
252 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
R
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Learning to make good decisions in the present, and accurately recalling events and information from the past, are critical aspects of human cognition that are often impaired in many psychiatric disorders. This project aims to identify the how the choices individuals make influence what, and how, people remember by combining disparate techniques in computational modeling and direct brain recordings in human subjects. The researcher developed a dual-task paradigm, probing how decisions in one task affect immediate recognition memory. To examine the neural mechanisms underlying model-free RL's influence on memory, the researcher will record local field potential (LFP) and single neuron activity in various brain regions as epilepsy patients perform the proposed task. The results of this project will identify specific neurocomputational mechanisms unifying decision-making and memory processes.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
The Computational and Neural Mechanisms Linking Decision-making and Memory in Humans
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Has seizure activity which is deemed non-responsive to standard pharmacological intervention(s), as determined by treating Neurologist and established clinical practices
- Has elected to receive clinically indicated intracranial EEG (electrocorticography (ECoG), stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG)) and/or temporal responsive neurostimulation (RNS) for medication-refractory epilepsy outside of this research study, as determined by treating clinician(s) and per current clinical practice
- Capacity to provide written informed consent
- Language proficiency in English or Spanish
- Willing and able to comply with all study-related procedures
You will not qualify if you...
- History of psychosis, such as in the context of depressive or manic episode
- Active suicidal ideation with intent, suicide attempt within the last six months, or other serious suicide risk
- Inability to provide informed consent or reliably participate in study assessments, as per the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA; score < 26) or in the opinion of the evaluating neuropsychologist
- Individuals unwilling or unable to undergo electrode implantation procedures
- Medical contraindications to neurosurgery or for general anesthesia, neurosurgery, or an MRI scan (required for electrode implantation)
- Neurological disorder other than epilepsy or other significant brain pathology, if contraindicated in the opinion of implanting neurosurgeon
- Women who are pregnant
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, 08901
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Salman E Qasim, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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