JAK Signaling in Depression and Cognition in Male Football Players

Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) Task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Resting-state and task-based MID Task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The MID Task is a specialized behavioral paradigm used during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). It isolates and measures the neural mechanisms of reward processing, specifically motivational salience, anticipation, and outcome feedback. fMRI blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) for resting and task-based functional connectivity: A multi-echo (ME) ep2 BOLD sequence will be optimized to provide a high signal-to-noise ratio in regions of interest that is maintained during minor incidences of head motion. Resting ME BOLD will be acquired over \~10 min, and task fMRI will involve two \~10 min scans. For resting bold, a single acquisition of phase-encoding in the opposite polarity (anterior-posterior) for distortion correction over \~30 seconds.

Effort-Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEFRT)

The EEfRT is a widely used, multi-trial task measuring motivation for rewards as an assessment of anhedonia, as anhedonia is specifically associated with decreased motivation for rewards. Participants are given an opportunity to choose between two different task difficulty levels in order to obtain monetary rewards by repeated manual button presses within a short time. Button presses raise a virtual ''bar'' viewed onscreen. If they raise the bar to the ''top'' within the prescribed time, they are eligible to win the allotted money. Each trial presents the subject with a choice between two levels of task difficulty, a 'hard task' and an 'easy task,' and 3 probabilities of winning. Subjects participate in the task for 20 minutes, and the first 50 trials are analyzed by calculating the proportion of hard-task choices across each level of probability. Lower proportions of hard task choices indicate decreased motivation.

Finger Tapping Test (FTT)

The Finger Tapping Test (FTT) is a simple neuropsychological assessment that measures fine motor speed, coordination, and nervous system health. This task uses a specially adapted tapper that the subject is asked to tap as fast as possible using the index finger. The subject is given 5 consecutive 10-second trials for both the preferred and non-preferred hands. The finger tapping score is the mean of the 5 trials and is computed for each hand. Normal/Average: 45-60 taps. Mild Slowing / Potential Impairment: 30-45 taps. Significant Motor Impairment / Fatigue: Fewer than 30 taps

Trail-Making Test (TMT)

The Trail-Making Test (TMT) is a common neuropsychological assessment measuring processing speed, visual attention, and task-switching ability. The test is typically administered using a paper-and-pencil format (or digital equivalent) and has two primary sections: Part A: Patients connect 25 randomly distributed circles containing numbers in ascending order (1, 2, 3...) as quickly as possible. This measures baseline processing speed, motor speed, and visual scanning. Part B: Patients connect 25 circles containing both numbers and letters, strictly alternating between them in ascending order (1-A-2-B-3-C...). This places a much higher cognitive demand on mental flexibility, set-shifting, and working memory. Evaluators record the total time (in seconds) taken to complete each part. Longer times generally indicate poorer cognitive function.

Anhedonia Subscale of the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self Reported (IDSSR)

Anhedonia is assessed with a 3-item subscale of the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR). Each of the three items is rated on a 4-point severity scale from 0 to 3, where 0 indicates no impairment, and 3 indicates maximum severity. Scores range from 0 to 9, with higher scores reflecting a greater severity of anhedonia, meaning a stronger loss of interest, motivation, and ability to experience pleasure.