Modulation of aggression neural networks in a VR real-time fMRI neurofeedback study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00039974

Enrollment

180

Registered

2026-06-15

Start date

2026-06-15

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-06-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Patients with substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, acute anorexia nervosa, PTSD, ASPD, BPD, CD, ODD, ADHD, ASD with and without elevated aggressive behavior at study intake. F10-F19 F20-F29 F30-F39 F40-F48 F50-F59 F60-F69 F90-F98 F99

Interventions

Group 1: Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback training: Participants receive neurofeedback from a brain region which is involved in cognitive control and emotion regulation Group 2: fMRI Yoked-neurofeedback:

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 60 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Patients: - psychiatric illness healthy controls: - no known psychiatric condition all: - age from 18 to 60 years old

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Patients: - acute neurological or somatic condition Healthy controls: - acute psychiatric, neurological or somatic condition all: - acute suicidality - lack of ability to confirm their wish to participate in this study or inability to understand the project or give written confirmation to participate in this project MRI contraindications

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Hypothesis H1: Group difference between active and yoked neurofeedback in the neural responses to high vs. low provocation during the Taylor-Aggression Paradigm (TAP). What is the Primary Endpoint? Confirmation of the group difference between active and yoked neurofeedback in the neural responses to high vs. low provocation during the Taylor-Aggression Paradigm (TAP) When is the primary endpoint measured, and how is it investigated? The fMRI data during the TAP are collected directly after the neurofeedback paradigm. The TAP is an established paradigm to investigate reactive aggression (Taylor, 1967 and e.g. Weidler et al., 2019) and can be implemented in an fMRI setting. The TAP entails different levels of provocation. Here, neural responses to high versus low provocation will be compared. After completion of data collection, the study will be unblinded and comparative statistics will be obtained.	—

Measure

Time frame

Hypothesis H1: Group difference between active and yoked neurofeedback in the neural responses to high vs. low provocation during the Taylor-Aggression Paradigm (TAP). What is the Primary Endpoint? Confirmation of the group difference between active and yoked neurofeedback in the neural responses to high vs. low provocation during the Taylor-Aggression Paradigm (TAP) When is the primary endpoint measured, and how is it investigated? The fMRI data during the TAP are collected directly after the neurofeedback paradigm. The TAP is an established paradigm to investigate reactive aggression (Taylor, 1967 and e.g. Weidler et al., 2019) and can be implemented in an fMRI setting. The TAP entails different levels of provocation. Here, neural responses to high versus low provocation will be compared. After completion of data collection, the study will be unblinded and comparative statistics will be obtained.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
H2a: We expect condition specific effects on neural networks during NF training and resting state measurements, i.e. higher responses in key nodes of the CCN and attenuated responses in Threat/ Frustrative Non –Reward network nodes?. What? We expect condition specific effects on neural networks during NF training and resting state measurements, i.e. higher responses in key nodes of the CCN and attenuated responses in Threat/ Frustrative Non –Reward network nodes?. When and how? During the NF-training and resting state measurements using fMRI network analysis. H2b: We expect an interaction between changes in reactive aggression measures (TAP) after CCN self-regulation and low versus high-GM density in the CCN? What? We expect an interaction between changes in reactive aggression measures (TAP) after CCN self-regulation and low versus high-GM density in the CCN?. When and how? The participants responses in the TAP will be investigated and a grey matter analysis will be conducted comparing low and high GM density in the CCN in participants. H3: Reduced state anger (STAXI-II) and less frequent aggressive events (EMA) in active NF compared to TaU?. What? We expect a reduced state anger (STAXI-II) and less frequent aggressive events (EMA) in active NF compared to TaU?. When and how? The STAXI-II will be conducted prior to and after the MRI measurement - including follow-up measurments. Additionally, the EMA sends notifications multiple times a week investigating aggressive events in the participants' day to day life. The indicated measures will be compared between the active NF and the TaU group. Exploration of neural correlates of group effects and intercepts and their association with psychometric measures, brain structure and demographic information. There is no explicit endpoint for the exploratory investigations. The aim is to explore the influence of multiple factors on the results of our experiment to better understand the data and inform future	—

Measure

Time frame

H2a: We expect condition specific effects on neural networks during NF training and resting state measurements, i.e. higher responses in key nodes of the CCN and attenuated responses in Threat/ Frustrative Non –Reward network nodes?. What? We expect condition specific effects on neural networks during NF training and resting state measurements, i.e. higher responses in key nodes of the CCN and attenuated responses in Threat/ Frustrative Non –Reward network nodes?. When and how? During the NF-training and resting state measurements using fMRI network analysis. H2b: We expect an interaction between changes in reactive aggression measures (TAP) after CCN self-regulation and low versus high-GM density in the CCN? What? We expect an interaction between changes in reactive aggression measures (TAP) after CCN self-regulation and low versus high-GM density in the CCN?. When and how? The participants responses in the TAP will be investigated and a grey matter analysis will be conducted comparing low and high GM density in the CCN in participants. H3: Reduced state anger (STAXI-II) and less frequent aggressive events (EMA) in active NF compared to TaU?. What? We expect a reduced state anger (STAXI-II) and less frequent aggressive events (EMA) in active NF compared to TaU?. When and how? The STAXI-II will be conducted prior to and after the MRI measurement - including follow-up measurments. Additionally, the EMA sends notifications multiple times a week investigating aggressive events in the participants' day to day life. The indicated measures will be compared between the active NF and the TaU group. Exploration of neural correlates of group effects and intercepts and their association with psychometric measures, brain structure and demographic information. There is no explicit endpoint for the exploratory investigations. The aim is to explore the influence of multiple factors on the results of our experiment to better understand the data and inform future

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Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSophie Kühne

Uniklinik RWTH Aachen

sokuehne@ukaachen.de+49 241 8088378

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jun 29, 2026