Novel Cross-Species Neurophysiological Assays of Reward and Cognitive Domains

The overarching goal of this multi-disciplinary research program is to develop and optimize
new translational assessments of reward and cognition that will produce neurophysiological
and behavioral metrics that enable objective comparison of drug effects.

Phase 1 (2016-2018) will seek to develop and optimize computer-based tasks to measure of
reward learning and cognition, to be administered during an EEG examination. Each participant
will be asked to come for a single visit to complete a brief psychological assessment
(interview and surveys), then perform two of the computer-based tasks while EEG data are
collected. The three tasks are the Flanker Task, the Reversal Learning Task, and the
Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT).

In Phase 2 (2018-2020), a new set of participants will be enrolled for four visits. At the
first visit they will have a brief psychological assessment (interview and surveys). They
will then be assigned to one of the tasks developed during Phase I, and they will also be
assigned to one of the study drugs: amisulpride (a dopamine enhancer), vortioxetine (a
serotonin enhancer), or modafinil (a cognitive enhancer). At the second, third, and fourth
visit, the subject will be given their drug in one of the three doses: a low dose, a higher
dose, and a placebo. They will then perform the assigned task during an EEG exam.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Healthy adults

- Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

- acute or chronic medical, neurological, or psychiatric illness

- any past/current diagnosis of mental health disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), including alcohol or substance abuse;

- use of any psychotropic medications in the past 6 months

- Current depressed mood (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) score < 6)

- Current use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin, and
other anticoagulants

- History of cocaine, stimulant, and other dopaminergic drug use (e.g., amphetamine,
methylphenidate)

- Positive toxicology screen at any session