Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

UCLA

Code:

NCT06041048

Conditions

Attention - no Condition is Being Assessed - Healthy Adults

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Modafinil

Study Details

Brief summary:

The norepinephrine-producing locus coeruleus (LC) is thought to be central to a wide array of cognitive functions, like attention and goal pursuit, and has been implicated in dysfunctions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia. The goal of this proposal is to develop methods that permit measurement of activity in the human LC. Because the LC is small and located in the pons, the Investigators will use high resolution magnetic resonance imaging techniques tailored to the brainstem environment, including neuromelanin-sensitive images shown to delineate the LC, combined with pharmacological manipulation to confirm the location of functional activity.

Conditions

Attention - no Condition is Being Assessed - Healthy Adults

Study ID

NCT06041048

Start date

Oct 1, 2023

Status verified date

Jun, 2026

Completion date

Dec 19, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 19, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Between the ages of 18 - 60 years of age,
  • Typically developing, healthy adult

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of schizophrenia, other forms of psychosis,
  • Specific or focal neurological disorder or severe alcohol or drug use disorder within the past 5 years
  • History of left ventricular hypertrophy or in patients with mitral valve prolapse who have experienced the mitral valve prolapse syndrome when previously receiving CNS stimulants, or who have had recent history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina.
  • Volunteers with known hypersensitivity to modafinil or armodafinil or its inactive ingredients
  • Known allergy/sensitivity or any hypersensitivity to components of modafinil or its formulation
  • Inability to swallow tablets or tolerate oral medication;
  • Pregnant or nursing (participants will be required to have a negative pregnancy test)
  • Contraindication for MRI scanning (metal implants, pacemakers, metal foreign bodies, or pregnancy)
  • Use of psychotropic medication within the past week
  • Claustrophobic and not comfortable being in a small space may also not want to participate

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Modafinil

Single oral dose (200 mg) of medication versus placebo given to healthy control subjects

placebo comparator: Placebo

Oral placebo

Interventions

Modafinil

Single dose (200 mg) of medication versus placebo given to healthy control subjects

Primary outcome measure

  • Brain activity - BOLD response [ Time Frame: 1 hour ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Julie Schweitzer, PhD

9167030450jschweitzer@ucdavis.edu

Jared Borden, MA

9167030294Jborden@ucdavis.edu

Locations

University of California, Davis

Recruiting

Sacramento, California, United States, 95817

Contacts

Jared Borden

jborden@ucdavis.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of California, Davis

Last update posted

Jun 18, 2026

Last verified

Jun, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of California, Davis on 2026-06-18.