---
title: Map dopamine signals for mood
nct_id: NCT07402928
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance
study_type: OBSERVATIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07402928"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07402928"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:02:38.316Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Map dopamine signals for mood

**Goal (in five words):** Map dopamine signals for mood

**Official Title:** Optimistic and Pessimistic Dopamine Signals in the Human Brain: a Mapping and Modelling Study in Health and Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT07402928](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07402928)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** OBSERVATIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance
- **Target Enrollment:** 140 participants
- **Start Date:** 2025-06-02
- **Completion Date:** 2027-06-30
- **Conditions:** Healthy, Parkinson, Medication Administration

## Summary For Families

Goal: map and model how the brain's dopamine signals code "optimistic" versus "pessimistic" prediction errors during decision making, and compare those signals in people with Parkinson's to healthy adults. Approach: participants perform behavioral tasks while undergoing advanced magnetic resonance scans that track brain activity tied to dopamine-related signals, then researchers use computational models to separate optimistic from pessimistic responses; people with Parkinson's remain on their usual antiparkinsonian medication so the team sees patterns in the typical medicated state. Eligibility: adults 35 and older, either healthy volunteers or people with clinically established or probable akinetic-rigid Parkinson's who are on stable antiparkinsonian meds, not using advanced device therapies, and without MR contraindications, severe depression, or regular antipsychotic or GABAergic medication.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 35 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
PD PATIENTS:

Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 35 years of age.
* Clinically established or probable PD according to the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's Disease
* Akinetic-rigid type PD
* Stable antiparkinsonian medicine for 4 weeks without major side effects such as dyskinesia or on-off periods.
* Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Female participants of childbearing age must not be pregnant, and they must use contraception.
* Breastfeeding.
* History of other neurologic or psychiatric disease other than depression.
* Claustrophobia, pacemakers, implanted electronic devices, metal in the body, or other contraindications for MR scans.
* Patients receiving advanced PD treatment such as duodopa pump or apomorphine pen
* Regular intake of antipsychotics and GABAergic medications (such as pregabalin and gabapentine).
* Severe depression (MDI score \> 29).
* Refuse to be informed about new health-related findings that might appear through participation.

HEALTHY CONTROLS:

Inclusion criteria:

* At least 35 years of age.
* Signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria:

* Female participants of childbearing age must not be pregnant, and they must use contraception.
* Breastfeeding.
* History of neurologic or psychiatric disease other than depression.
* Claustrophobia, pacemakers, implanted electronic devices, metal in the body, or other contraindications for MR scans.
* Regular intake of antipsychotics and GABAergic medications (such as pregabalin and gabapentine).
* Severe depression (MDI score \> 29).
* Refuse to be informed about new health-related information and accidental health-related findings that might appear through participation.
```

## Locations (1)

- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark _(55.6430, 12.4771)_

## Central Contacts

- David Meder, PhD — (CONTACT) — 004529892696 — davidm@drcmr.dk
- Ditte H Frantzen, MSc — (CONTACT) — 004542152404 — dittehf@drcmr.dk

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07402928*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07402928*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07402928*