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Cognitive Neurocomputational Task Reliability & Clinical Applications Consortium (CNTRACS): Study 1

Cognitive Neurocomputational Task Reliability & Clinical Applications Consortium

Who can join

Ages 18 to 59 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

General Inclusion

1. age 18 to 59
2. no substance disorder in past six months (confirmed with urine drug screens and breathalyzers);
3. no clinically significant head injury or neurological disease. 4. Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR) score =16+.

Group Specific Criteria: Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder (SZ):

1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective;
2. no medication changes in prior month or anticipated in the next month or not taking medications
3. outpatient or partial hospital if unmedicated

Healthy Controls (HC):

1. no Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder;
2. no family history of psychosis or bipolar

Exclusion Criteria:

Healthy Controls (HC):

1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder diagnosis
2. Family history of psychosis or bipolar

Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder (SZ/SZA): additional exclusion criteria for the unmedicated individuals are:

1. not in acute exacerbation requiring immediate hospitalization or treatment
2. self-reported medication non-compliance for at least the four previous weeks 3)never having started medications

About the study

In Study 1, investigators will test the ability of each of the seven paradigms to differentiate between schizophrenia (SZ)/schizoaffective disorder (SZA) and matched healthy control subjects (HC) and to predict individual differences in clinical measures of hallucinations and delusions (as well as measures of function). Investigators will also directly compare the tasks in terms of predictive ability and psychometric properties and determine whether the tasks share variance or explain unique variance. This will include determining whether hallucinations and delusions are best explained by separate underlying processes or by a single process. Investigators will also test whether the model-based parameters from these studies are more precise and sensitive than standard behavioral methods for assessing deficits across psychotic disorders and for predicting hallucinations and delusions (Aim 1). Investigators will also validate key model-based parameters against well-characterized neurophysiological measures using electroencephalogram (EEG) (Aim 4). The data from Study 1 will also be used to optimize (e.g., length, floor, and ceiling effects) tasks for Study 2. To generate a sample with sufficient variation in hallucinations and delusions, investigators will recruit the following groups that balance feasibility with clinical relevance: A) healthy controls (HC) \[HC, N=125\]; B) schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder \[SZ/SZA, N=200\]). For Study 1, investigators will ensure that 40 patients are unmedicated. Investigators anticipate a \~20% screen fail/drop-out rate based on our prior Cognitive Neuroscience Test Reliability and Clinical Applications for Schizophrenia Consortium (CNTRACS) studies. Thus, investigators will run an additional 40 SZ/SZA and 15 HC. All sites have experience recruiting patients in each of these groups as indicated by our past successful studies, and the fact that investigators have been able to recruit patients with significant hallucinations and delusions in all groups. Investigators will also validate key model-based parameters against well-characterized neurophysiological measures using electroencephalogram (EEG) (Aim 4). The data from Study 1 will also be used to optimize (e.g., length, floor, and ceiling effects) tasks for Study 2. To generate a sample with sufficient variation in hallucinations and delusions, investigators will recruit the following groups that balance feasibility with clinical relevance: A) healthy controls (HC) \[HC, N=125\]; B) schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder \[SZ/SZA, N=200\]). For Study 1, investigators will ensure that 40 patients are unmedicated. Investigators anticipate a \~20% screen fail/drop-out rate based on our prior Cognitive Neuroscience Test Reliability and Clinical Applications for Schizophrenia Consortium (CNTRACS) studies. Thus, investigators will run an additional 40 SZ/SZA and 15 HC. All sites have experience recruiting patients in each of these groups as indicated by our past successful studies, and the fact that investigators have been able to recruit patients with significant hallucinations and delusions in all groups.

What is being tested

• Motion Perception Task (behavioral)
• Sine Wave Speech Task (behavioral)
• Volatility Task (behavioral)
• Choice Probabilistic Reversal Task (behavioral)
• Kamin Blocking Task (behavioral)
• Minnesota Trust Game (behavioral)

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine · Participants: 325 · Started: Oct 1, 2026

Contact the study team

• Deanna Barch, Ph.D. · Phone: 314-935-8729
• Clinical Coordinator · Phone: 314-747-2160

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07853807

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Psychotic Disorders
• Schizophrenia

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 3, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.