Brain circuits underlying cognition: BRIGHT Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Brain circuits underlying cognition: relating circuit deficits to cognitive dysfunction; and validating cognition-related behavioural tasks and biomarkers in patients with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder
IRAS ID
345585
Contact name
Sukhi Shergill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
To be confirmed once registered, The Open Science Framework [OSF.io]
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Executive function (a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control) and cognitive control (the process by which goals or plans influence behaviour) are terms used to describe the cognitive processes vital for sustaining attention, monitoring information and selecting behaviours to attain a goal. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life.
Previous research shows that these processes are commonly impaired in people with a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, not much has focussed on measuring the impairment in more than one disorder at any one time. Many disorders have overlapping symptoms, but it is unclear to what extent these reflect impairments in processes present in more than one disorder, or if different processes are impaired in different disorders.
We have identified a battery of cognitive tasks in earlier studies which identifies the differences in these processes in people with and without Psychosis and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The purpose of the first part of this study is to use different brain imaging techniques (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG)) to look at how carrying out these tasks affects the activity in the brain in people with and without Psychosis or MDD. The second part will use EEG and MRI to look at sleep quality and its effect on memory, learning and performance of cognitive tasks.
Boehringer Ingelheim, a pharmaceutical company, are funding this study which will run at one site in London over approximately 1 year. We will recruit 30 participants with MDD, 30 with psychosis and 40 age and gender matched healthy participants who will attend for a screening visit. Suitable participants will wear an actigraphy watch for 7 days before two further visits for part 1. Participants will have MRI and EEG scanning sessions at one visit and will complete some cognitive assessments and questions about their psychiatric history and symptoms at the other.
Part 2 involves wearing an actigraphy watch for 7 days before coming to the clinic for a residential stay lasting 2 nights and 2 days. During each night, participants will have EEG recorded, during each following day they will have an MRI scan and complete some cognitive assessments.
Participants taking part in part 1 only will be in the study for about 2 weeks, or between 3 and 6 weeks if taking part in both parts.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0245
Date of REC Opinion
29 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion