NeuropsychologyPSKNCT07883096
Parsing the Impact of Calories Versus Sweet Taste on Beverage Brand Conditioning
A study testing 3-week daily beverage intervention in people with Neuropsychology and Ingestive Behavior, run by Monell Chemical Senses Center.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to learn how the sweet taste and the calorie content of a beverage affect the way people respond to the brand logo printed on that beverage. Previous work suggests that once a logo has been paired repeatedly with a rewarding drink, the logo alone can capture attention and increase the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Neuropsychology, Ingestive Behavior
- What is being tested?
- 3-week daily beverage intervention
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 176 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Mar 2027to May 2031
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults 18-45 years old
- BMI = 18-34 kg/m2
- Speak English fluently
Who cannot join
- Current or past diagnosis of diabetes or metabolic disorder (thyroid disease, etc.)
- Current or intended weight loss efforts (behavioral, GLP-1 agonists)
- Gastric bypass or GLP-1 use in the previous 6 months
- Current pregnancy or planning to become pregnant in the next 6 weeks
- Claustrophobia (this would make lying in an MRI scanner very uncomfortable).
- History of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for more than 10 minutes
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- Contraindications to MRI: Individuals with a pacemaker, aneurysm clips, neurostimulators, cochlear implants, metal in eyes, steel workers, or other implants.
- History of diagnosed taste, smell, or eating disorders
- History of alcohol or drug dependence
- Active neurologic disorder
- Food allergies or restrictive diet
About this study
Official title: Parsing the Impact of Calories Versus Sweet Taste on Beverage Brand Conditioning: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The purpose of this study is to learn how the sweet taste and the calorie content of a beverage affect the way people respond to the brand logo printed on that beverage. Previous work suggests that once a logo has been paired repeatedly with a rewarding drink, the logo alone can capture attention and increase the desire to consume. What is not yet known is whether the sweet taste, the calories, or both are responsible. Two current scientific explanations disagree on this point, and the study is designed to compare them. The investigators plan to enroll 176 healthy adults, 18 to 45 years old, with a body mass index between 18 and 34. People will not be eligible if they cannot safely have an MRI scan, are actively trying to lose weight or taking weight-loss medication, have a history of a taste, smell, or eating disorder, or have an active neurological condition.
- Conditions
- Neuropsychology, Ingestive Behavior
- Being tested
- 3-week daily beverage intervention
- Keywords
- sugar-sweetened beverage, fMRI, non-nutritive sweetener, neuropsychology, ingestive behavior
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
3-week daily beverage interventionDietary supplement
Beverage/brand condition with either sugar-sweetened beverage, nonnutritive sweetener, high-fructose corn syrup, or control.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-sweetened beverage | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: 3-week daily beverage intervention |
| Nonnutritive Sweetener | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: 3-week daily beverage intervention |
| High-fructose corn syrup | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: 3-week daily beverage intervention |
| Control | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Stop Signal Task
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Body Composition
Body Fat Mass, Lean Body Mass, Skeletal Muscle Mass, Total Body Water, all measured in kg
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Secondary outcomes (5)
Questionnaire
Dutch Eating Questionnaire
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Power of Food Scale
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Measured: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Oct 2026
- Study startMar 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completionAug 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for NeuropsychologyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 176 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Monell Chemical Senses Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07883096
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 26-8069
- Other IDs
- 1R01DK149422-01
- Acronym
- PSK
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Parsing the Impact of Calories Versus Sweet Taste on Beverage Brand Conditioning: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07883096
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PSK / 26-8069
- Conditions
- Neuropsychology, Ingestive Behavior
- Keywords
- sugar-sweetened beverage, fMRI, non-nutritive sweetener, neuropsychology, ingestive behavior
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 176 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Monell Chemical Senses CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Study start
- Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Oct 2026 (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.
The purpose of this study is to learn how the sweet taste and the calorie content of a beverage affect the way people respond to the brand logo printed on that beverage. Previous work suggests that once a logo has been paired repeatedly with a rewarding drink, the logo alone can capture attention and increase the desire to consume. What is not yet known is whether the sweet taste, the calories, or both are responsible. Two current scientific explanations disagree on this point, and the study is designed to compare them. The investigators plan to enroll 176 healthy adults, 18 to 45 years old, with a body mass index between 18 and 34. People will not be eligible if they cannot safely have an MRI scan, are actively trying to lose weight or taking weight-loss medication, have a history of a taste, smell, or eating disorder, or have an active neurological condition.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-sweetened beverage | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: 3-week daily beverage intervention |
| Nonnutritive Sweetener | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: 3-week daily beverage intervention |
| High-fructose corn syrup | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: 3-week daily beverage intervention |
| Control | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adults 18-45 years old
- BMI = 18-34 kg/m2
- Speak English fluently
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Current or past diagnosis of diabetes or metabolic disorder (thyroid disease, etc.)
- Current or intended weight loss efforts (behavioral, GLP-1 agonists)
- Gastric bypass or GLP-1 use in the previous 6 months
- Current pregnancy or planning to become pregnant in the next 6 weeks
- Claustrophobia (this would make lying in an MRI scanner very uncomfortable).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3-week daily beverage interventionBeverage/brand condition with either sugar-sweetened beverage, nonnutritive sweetener, high-fructose corn syrup, or control. | Dietary supplement | High-fructose corn syrup, Nonnutritive Sweetener, Sugar-sweetened beverage |
Primary outcome
Stop Signal Task
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Body Composition
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Body Fat Mass, Lean Body Mass, Skeletal Muscle Mass, Total Body Water, all measured in kg
5 secondary outcomes
Questionnaire
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Questionnaire
Time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Oct 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 3-week daily beverage intervention in people with Neuropsychology and Ingestive Behavior, run by Monell Chemical Senses Center.
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 3 inclusion and 11 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Stop Signal Task (time frame: Completed during the pre- and post-intervention assessment visits scheduled at baseline and within 1-2 weeks of the 3-week long intervention.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 20 Oct 2026.