Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

Auburn University

Code:

NCT07137273

Conditions

Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)

Autism

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 6 - 17

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Operant Conditioning Tasks with Reinforcement Manipulations

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study is designed to better understand how certain features of reinforcement affect learning and motivation in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Participants will take part in a series of structured teaching sessions that involve simple tasks and reward-based feedback. By changing the timing and amount of rewards, we aim to learn how these factors influence the ability to acquire and maintain new skills. This information may help improve behavioral interventions for individuals with IDD in the future. The study does not involve medications or procedures intended to change participants' health status.

Conditions

Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)

Autism

Study ID

NCT07137273

Start date

Oct 7, 2024

Status verified date

Aug, 2025

Completion date

Aug, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 6 - 17

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

At least 6 years of age

Documented neurodevelopmental condition

Engagement in problem behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction) that can be measured during study sessions

Ability to follow simple instructions

Ability to participate in tabletop choice-based tasks

Availability to complete all scheduled study sessions

Provision of informed consent by participant or legally authorized representative

Exclusion Criteria:

Severe sensory or motor impairments that would prevent participation in tabletop tasks

Current or recent participation (within the past 30 days) in another interventional behavioral research study that could interfere with study outcomes

Medical or behavioral conditions judged by investigators to pose a safety risk or interfere with data collection

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Single-Arm: Manipulation of Reinforcement Schedules

Participants will complete an operant conditioning task in which reinforcement schedules are systematically manipulated to evaluate changes in response patterns. All participants receive the same sequence of experimental conditions, which involve varying the availability and distribution of points exchangeable for preferred items or activities. No health-related treatment is provided; the procedures are designed to examine basic behavioral processes related to reinforcement dynamics.

Interventions

Operant Conditioning Tasks with Reinforcement Manipulations

This behavioral intervention involves structured operant conditioning tasks. Reinforcement parameters (e.g., schedule arrangement, magnitude, and probability) are systematically manipulated to evaluate their effects on behavioral allocation. The primary objective is to assess how variations in reinforcement contingencies influence choice patterns. The procedures are designed to examine fundamental behavioral processes rather than to provide therapeutic benefit.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in rate of behavior across schedules [ Time Frame: 3 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Center for Autism Research, Treatment, and Training

Recruiting

Auburn, Alabama, United States, 36830

Contacts

John Falligant

205-807-2371jmf0031@auburn.edu

Madeline Levin, M.S.

334-844-4412mjl0083@auburn.edu

Kennedy Krieger Institute

Recruiting

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205

Contacts

Louis P Hagopian, PhD

443-923-2841hagopian@kennedykrieger.org

Oakland University

Recruiting

Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States, 48309

Contacts

Michael P Kranak, PhD

304-374-5150kranak@oakland.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Auburn University

Last update posted

Aug 27, 2025

Last verified

Aug, 2025

Keywords

  • Operant Conditioning
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Behavioral interventions

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Auburn University on 2025-08-27.