Clinical Research Directory

Assessment of Apathy in a Real-life Situation, With a Video and Sensors-based System

Apathy is defined as a quantitative reduction in voluntary and goal-directed behavior. To address this, the investigators propose an ethological approach to assess apathy objectively and quantitatively by observing patients in real-life situations. The ECOCAPTURE paradigm involves a structured, multi-step scenario conducted in a functional exploration platform. This platform is equipped with an advanced data acquisition system integrating video recordings and sensors to precisely monitor and analyze participants' behavior. Primary objective: Develop a diagnostic tool for apathy using metrics derived from video recordings and sensor data. This tool aims to provide objective measures to identify and quantify apathy. Secondary Objectives: * Validation of ICM\_APATHY\_TASKS: This novel experimental task is designed to evaluate three primary mechanisms thought to underlie apathy: Motivation, Cognitive inertia (difficulty initiating tasks), The interaction between motivation and action execution. * Identification of the pathophysiological mechanisms of apathy by investigate the cognitive, behavioral, neural, and neurohormonal underpinnings of apathy. This will enable the classification of apathetic patients into subtypes (or several forms of apathy) based on the dominant mechanisms and provide insights into which processes best explain apathy in individual cases. This innovative framework aims to deepen the understanding of apathy, improve diagnostic precision, and pave the way for tailored interventions.