AnxietyENGRAMMENCT06891612
Electroencephalographic Study of the Mechanisms of Inhibition of Emotional Memories in Young Healthy Subjects
A study testing Cognitive Assessments, Eye-tracking and Electroencephalography (EEG) in people with Anxiety and Depression, run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Forgetfulness has long been considered a pathology of memory. However, the brain's voluntary suppression of certain unpleasant memories is essential for building a healthy memory. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety, Depression, Cognitive Control
- What is being tested?
- Cognitive Assessments, Eye-tracking and Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 78 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 13 Jun 2016to 12 Apr 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male or female aged between 18 and 35 years
- Affiliated to a social security scheme
- Having French as their mother tongue
- Right-handed
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Having signed a written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy in progress, pregnancy test will be performed
- Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
- Person hospitalized without consent and not subject to legal protection measures, and person admitted to a health or social care facility for purposes other than research
- Minor
- Adults subject to legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship or judicial protection), adults unable to express their consent and not subject to protection measure
- Person subject to an exclusion for another research
Show all 13Show fewer
- History of a neurological, psychiatric disorders, or head trauma with loss of consciousness for more than an hour
- History of cancer over the last 5 years, with the exception of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin
- Presence or history of chronic alcoholism or drug addiction
- Taking medications that may alter cognitive and/or brain function (decision of the principal investigator)
- Presence of visual and/or auditory disorders sufficiently significant to affect the progress of the tests
- Contraindications to electroencephalography
- Presentation of unpleasant images that are too emotionally disturbing for the participant (by decision of the physician)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Etude Par électroencéphalographie Des mécanismes d'Inhibition de Souvenirs émotionnels Chez le Sujet Jeune Sain
Forgetfulness has long been considered a pathology of memory. However, the brain's voluntary suppression of certain unpleasant memories is essential for building a healthy memory. This suppression capacity can be measured using the "Think/No-Think" (TNT) paradigm.However, while the areas involved in these processes of suppression are now well described, the nature and temporal dynamics of the processes of inhibition and orientation of attention is still poorly defined. The aim of this study is to describe the nature of the attentional and inhibitory mechanisms involved in the suppression of emotionally negative memories, and their temporal articulation using electroencephalography (EEG). To this end, we will use a model of memory deletion derived from a perceptual attentional task and simulating the deletion phase in order to control the nature and timing of the processes involved. This approach will allow us to observe the presence of correspondences between the responses measured during the attentional test simulating the suppression and the actual phase of suppression, for which we cannot control the nature of the operations undertaken by the subject. In addition, we will assess the emotional response through physiological measures of autonomic nervous system activity (heart rate and electrodermal response) immediately after the TNT phase or one day later, which will allow us to evaluate the influence of memory suppression mechanisms on their emotional content.
From a practical point of view, this study is organized into 3 groups of participants (healthy young adults). Each group will perform a perceptual attentional test and a TNT task, which will be preceded and followed by a measure of emotional response. Group 1 will allow us to test our main hypothesis from a behavioral point of view, as well as to calibrate the attentional task and its consistency with the TNT task. Group 2 will carry out the same tests but during an EEG examination to decode the temporal dynamics of attention states during the process of memory suppression. Group 3 will perform these same tests with a 24-hour interval between the TNT phase and the emotional assessment to estimate the effect of a retention period on forgetfulness functions.
The description of these mechanisms and their physiological correlates will allow us to better understand how this ability to voluntarily control the flow of thoughts associated with negative memories is implemented, and thus to better understand the alterations in this capacity that can be observed during certain mental pathologies such as anxiety or depression.
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Depression, Cognitive Control
- Being tested
- Cognitive Assessments, Eye-tracking, Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive AssessmentsBehavioural
Cognitive Assessments
Eye-trackingDevice
measurement of the points of gaze
Electroencephalography (EEG)Device
Electrophysiological monitoring method to record electrical activity of the brain
Electrocardiography (ECG)Device
measurement of the electrical activity of the heart
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| pretest healthy participants | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Assessments; Device: Eye-tracking; Device: Electroencephalography (EEG); Device: Electrocardiography (ECG) |
| healthy participant 10 min delayed recall | Experimental | 10 min delayed recall Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Assessments; Device: Eye-tracking; Device: Electroencephalography (EEG); Device: Electrocardiography (ECG) |
| healthy participant 24 h delayed recall | Experimental | 24 h delayed recall Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Assessments; Device: Eye-tracking; Device: Electroencephalography (EEG); Device: Electrocardiography (ECG) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Completion psychopathological scales
Entered into a computer
Measured: Inclusion visit
Measurement of the electrodermal conductance
For emotional evaluation when presenting negative images
Measured: Day1
Measuremet of heart rate
For emotional evaluation when presenting negative images
Measured: Day 1
Secondary outcomes (5)
Attentional task
This test is performed on a computer after learning pairs of images
Measured: Day 1 and Day 2
Test of "Think/No-Think"
This test is performed on a computer after learning pairs of images
Measured: Day1 and Day2
Measurement of the electrodermal conductance
For emotional evaluation after learning pairs of images
Measured: Day 1 and Day 2
Measuremet of heart rate
For emotional evaluation after learning pairs of images
Measured: Day 1 and Day 2
Measurement of electroencephalographic activity
Subjects will be equiped with electrodes during the attentional task and " Think/No-Think " test
Measured: Day1 and Day 2
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Mar 2025
- Study start13 Jun 2016
- Primary completion12 Apr 2019
- Study completion12 Apr 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, FranceThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06891612
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- C15-70
- Acronym
- ENGRAMME
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 12 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Legrand N, Etard O, Vandevelde A, Pierre M, Viader F, Clochon P, Doidy F, Peschanski D, Eustache F, Gagnepain P. Long-term modulation of cardiac activity induced by inhibitory control over emotional memories. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 14;10(1):15008. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71858-2.
PubMed 32929105
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Etude Par électroencéphalographie Des mécanismes d'Inhibition de Souvenirs émotionnels Chez le Sujet Jeune Sain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06891612
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ENGRAMME / C15-70
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Depression, Cognitive Control
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, FranceOther government
- Study start
- 13 Jun 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Apr 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Apr 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Forgetfulness has long been considered a pathology of memory. However, the brain's voluntary suppression of certain unpleasant memories is essential for building a healthy memory. This suppression capacity can be measured using the "Think/No-Think" (TNT) paradigm.However, while the areas involved in these processes of suppression are now well described, the nature and temporal dynamics of the processes of inhibition and orientation of attention is still poorly defined. The aim of this study is to describe the nature of the attentional and inhibitory mechanisms involved in the suppression of emotionally negative memories, and their temporal articulation using electroencephalography (EEG). To this end, we will use a model of memory deletion derived from a perceptual attentional task and simulating the deletion phase in order to control the nature and timing of the processes involved. This approach will allow us to observe the presence of correspondences between the responses measured during the attentional test simulating the suppression and the actual phase of suppression, for which we cannot control the nature of the operations undertaken by the subject. In addition, we will assess the emotional response through physiological measures of autonomic nervous system activity (heart rate and electrodermal response) immediately after the TNT phase or one day later, which will allow us to evaluate the influence of memory suppression mechanisms on their emotional content.
From a practical point of view, this study is organized into 3 groups of participants (healthy young adults). Each group will perform a perceptual attentional test and a TNT task, which will be preceded and followed by a measure of emotional response. Group 1 will allow us to test our main hypothesis from a behavioral point of view, as well as to calibrate the attentional task and its consistency with the TNT task. Group 2 will carry out the same tests but during an EEG examination to decode the temporal dynamics of attention states during the process of memory suppression. Group 3 will perform these same tests with a 24-hour interval between the TNT phase and the emotional assessment to estimate the effect of a retention period on forgetfulness functions.
The description of these mechanisms and their physiological correlates will allow us to better understand how this ability to voluntarily control the flow of thoughts associated with negative memories is implemented, and thus to better understand the alterations in this capacity that can be observed during certain mental pathologies such as anxiety or depression.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| pretest healthy participants | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive Assessments, Device: Eye-tracking, Device: Electroencephalography (EEG), Device: Electrocardiography (ECG) |
| healthy participant 10 min delayed recall | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive Assessments, Device: Eye-tracking, Device: Electroencephalography (EEG), Device: Electrocardiography (ECG)10 min delayed recall |
| healthy participant 24 h delayed recall | Experimental | Behavioral: Cognitive Assessments, Device: Eye-tracking, Device: Electroencephalography (EEG), Device: Electrocardiography (ECG)24 h delayed recall |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Male or female aged between 18 and 35 years
- Affiliated to a social security scheme
- Having French as their mother tongue
- Right-handed
- High school graduate or equivalent
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Pregnancy in progress, pregnancy test will be performed
- Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
- Person hospitalized without consent and not subject to legal protection measures, and person admitted to a health or social care facility for purposes other than research
- Minor
- Adults subject to legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship or judicial protection), adults unable to express their consent and not subject to protection measure
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive AssessmentsCognitive Assessments | Behavioural | healthy participant 10 min delayed recall, healthy participant 24 h delayed recall, pretest healthy participants |
| Eye-trackingmeasurement of the points of gaze | Device | healthy participant 10 min delayed recall, healthy participant 24 h delayed recall, pretest healthy participants |
| Electroencephalography (EEG)Electrophysiological monitoring method to record electrical activity of the brain | Device | healthy participant 10 min delayed recall, healthy participant 24 h delayed recall, pretest healthy participants |
| Electrocardiography (ECG)measurement of the electrical activity of the heart | Device | healthy participant 10 min delayed recall, healthy participant 24 h delayed recall, pretest healthy participants |
Primary outcome
Completion psychopathological scales
Time frame: Inclusion visit
Entered into a computer
Measurement of the electrodermal conductance
Time frame: Day1
For emotional evaluation when presenting negative images
Measuremet of heart rate
Time frame: Day 1
For emotional evaluation when presenting negative images
5 secondary outcomes
Attentional task
Time frame: Day 1 and Day 2
Test of "Think/No-Think"
Time frame: Day1 and Day2
Measurement of the electrodermal conductance
Time frame: Day 1 and Day 2
Measuremet of heart rate
Time frame: Day 1 and Day 2
Measurement of electroencephalographic activity
Time frame: Day1 and Day 2
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Sep 2025.
- Results publication: PubMed 32929105Legrand N, Etard O, Vandevelde A, Pierre M, Viader F, Clochon P, Doidy F, Peschanski D, Eustache F, Gagnepain P. Long-term modulation of cardiac activity induced by inhibitory control over emotional memories. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 14;10(1):15008. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71858-2.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cognitive Assessments, Eye-tracking and Electroencephalography (EEG) in people with Anxiety and Depression, run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Completion psychopathological scales (time frame: Inclusion visit). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06891612, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Sep 2025.