The Functional Neuroanatomy of the Human Physiological Stress Response

Description

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a moderately low blood sugar stress on the nervous system. The investigators hope that information obtained from completing this study will help to reveal information about how a non-psychological stress impacts the parts of the brain that react to stress and the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that provides the body with involuntary or automatic control of heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

Conditions

Hypoglycemia, Physiological Stress

Talk to us

Study Overview

On this page

Study Details

Study overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a moderately low blood sugar stress on the nervous system. The investigators hope that information obtained from completing this study will help to reveal information about how a non-psychological stress impacts the parts of the brain that react to stress and the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that provides the body with involuntary or automatic control of heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

The Functional Neuroanatomy of the Human Physiological Stress Response

The Functional Neuroanatomy of the Human Physiological Stress Response

Condition
Hypoglycemia
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

Boston

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Healthy volunteers
  • * Males and Females age 18 to 45 years
  • * BMI 18-35 kg/m2
  • * Pregnancy
  • * Lactation
  • * Menopause
  • * Any medical condition
  • * Current or prior alcohol or drug abuse
  • * Active tobacco use
  • * Abnormal ECG
  • * In all subjects, any individuals on oral, injected, inhaled or topical corticosteroids within the last year or oral contraceptives within the past 3 months will be excluded.
  • * Use of medications other than thyroid hormone or hormonal birth control
  • * Serum potassium \>5.0 mmol/L
  • * Estimated GFR \<60 mL/min/1.73 m2
  • * Hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5%
  • * Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) for depression score ≥15
  • * GAD-7 Questionnaire for anxiety score ≥10
  • * PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥31
  • * Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) score \>28
  • * Blood pressure systolic ≥140 or \<100 mmHg; Blood pressure diastolic \>90 mmHg
  • * Metal in the body including: cardiac pacemakers, stents, artificial heart valves, artificial limbs or hands, brain stimulator devices, implanted drug pumps, ear implants, eye implants or known metal fragments in eyes, exposure to shrapnel or metal filings (wounded in military combat, sheet metal workers, welders, and others), other metallic surgical hardware in vital areas, certain tattoos with metallic ink, certain transdermal medication patches, and metal-containing IUDs

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Brigham and Women's Hospital,

Roy Freeman, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Gail K Adler, MD, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Brigham and Women's Hospital

David Borsook, MD, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Boston Children's Hospital

Study Record Dates

2025-06