Cardiovascular Disease, Health Behavior, Obesity, Type II Diabetes
Conditions
Keywords
Obesity, Type II diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Health behavior promotion, Neuroeconomics, EEG biofeedback, Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA), EEG
Brief summary
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.
Interventions
OTHERSTRIDES
Self-Control TRaining for Increasing Delay of gratification through EEG operant conditioning with Source localization (STRIDES). 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.
OTHERSham Control
Brain-computer interface training protocol that is designed to have no effect on self-controlled behavior.
Sponsors
University of Rochester
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| postprandial blood glucose and triglycerides | 4 times per week for 4 weeks |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed