Using EEG Operant Conditioning to Improve Trait Self-Control and Promote Healthy Behavior

University of Rochester

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Type II Diabetes; Obesity; Health Behavior; Cardiovascular Disease

Treatments: Other: Sham Control; Other: STRIDES

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01801254

RSRB00043988

Details and patient eligibility

About

The field of neuroeconomics has begun to elucidate neural mechanisms underlying self-control; however, researchers have not yet harnessed neuroeconomics findings to develop interventions for improving self-control ability. The investigators are currently developing such an intervention. The investigators' approach involves using a brain-computer interface with audiovisual feedback to show people what is happening in their own brains, in real time. Through this interface, individuals are trained to increase levels of neural activity that may facilitate self-control, which, in turn, may improve the ability to exhibit self-controlled behaviors. This may increase the ability to engage in heath behaviors for which self-control is required (eg, dieting and exercising). The investigators' long-term goal is to create a tool that will help people develop the self-control needed to achieve lasting improvements in health behaviors.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Can read and write fluently in English
• At least 18 years of age
• Right-handed
• Overweight or obese (BMI > 24.9)
• Currently has a University of Rochester meal plan
• Currently in contemplation or action stages of change with respect to weight loss (measured with the Weight Stages of Change Algorithm; Rossi, Rossi, Velicer, & Prochaska, 1995).

Exclusion criteria

• History of diabetes, epilepsy, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, food allergies, veganism, mental illness, or eating disorders
• Currently taking a medication that may have a strong effect on EEG recordings (eg, an antidepressant, stimulant medication, etc.)
• Currently drinks more than 3 cups of coffee per day or roughly equivalent caffeine intake

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

STRIDES

Experimental group

Description:

Brain-computer interface training protocol designed to up-regulate specific types of neural activity in regions including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and Brodmann area 6 bilaterally. Targeted neural activity types are positively associated with self-controlled behavior.

Treatment:

Other: STRIDES

Sham Control

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Brain-computer interface training protocol that is designed to have no effect on self-controlled behavior. Stimuli used and durations of training sessions for this protocol are identical to those used in the treatment condition.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Control