Study of Brain Activity in Craving and Decision-Making in Adults With and Without Opioid Use Disorder

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how craving affects decision-making and value assignment in people, focusing on opioid use disorder OUD and food cravings. The goal is to understand the brain activity and interactions involved when individuals with OUD and community controls decide how much they are willing to pay for consumer or snack food items related to their craving. This study also compares craving mechanisms between drug and food cravings using brain imaging techniques. Participants with OUD receiving medication treatment and community controls will complete decision-making tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI. They will indicate their willingness-to-pay for everyday consumer items or snack foods associated with their cravings. The tasks are combined with behavioral interventions using audio-visual stimuli designed to change psychological states and cravings for drugs or foods. These include neutral-relaxing, drug-related, non-food, and food-related stimuli. During the study, participants will undergo fMRI scans while performing tasks and viewing stimuli. Researchers will measure willingness-to-pay decisions and brain activity patterns related to craving and valuation. Assessments involve observing changes in craving and decision-making processes. The study requires participants to be at least 18 years old and able to complete all procedures, including reading and understanding study materials. Participation length and follow-up details are based on study visits and task completion.

Craving & Decision-Making