Understanding Trust Mechanisms in People with Intellectual Disabilities and Typical Development Ages 3 to 29

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how trust works in people with intellectual disabilities, focusing on individuals with Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, compared to typically developing people. The study examines three key mechanisms that influence interpersonal trust emotional evaluation, understanding personality traits, and evaluating the reliability of information. These processes involve brain areas such as the amygdala, cortico-cerebellar networks, and frontal regions, which develop early in childhood and may function differently in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Participants include people aged 3 to 29 years divided into groups of Down syndrome patients, Fragile X syndrome patients, and typically developing controls matched by either chronological or mental age. The study involves behavioral and eye-tracking tests assessing trust through facial cues, behaviors, and the evaluation of informants, alongside clinical, cognitive, executive function, and sociability assessments. Brain MRI scans structural and functional are optionally performed during an additional visit. During the study, participants undergo a single visit with various tests measuring error rates, response times, and visual strategies related to trust. Clinical evaluations include medical history, developmental status, epilepsy presence, autism spectrum disorder, and heart conditions. Cognitive and executive functions are assessed through standardized tests and questionnaires. Eye-tracking tasks analyze social attention and motivation. Optional neuroimaging evaluates brain structure and activity. Researchers review these data to understand trust adjustment differences and brain function in intellectual disability, with the study lasting until January 2030.

The Neurocognitive Bases of Trust in Intellectual Disability