Brain Stimulation and Decision-making

Part of paid clinical trials in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sponsor
Emory University
Study ID
NCT04099056
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 50 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Neurostimulation — DEVICE
    Participants will be seated comfortably in a chair and asked to complete simple computer tasks. Participants will receive neurostimulation in the form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or Temporal Interference (TI). TMS: Either during, or just before any of the tasks, participants will receive either repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or single pulse TMS. During this, the researchers place a small plastic coil next to the participant's head. The coil will then generate a magnetic pulse, and stimulation will occur during presentation of the visual stimuli on which subjects will conduct behavioral or cognitive tasks. TI: Either during, or just before, any of the above tasks, participants will receive stimulation with TI. To do so, commercially available gel-based electrodes will be placed on the scalp to target the relevant brain region. The position targeted by the electrodes will be guided by previously defined coordinates.

Study Details

Decision-making is an important process that is frequently shown to be impaired in patients with depression. While a number of preclinical and clinical studies have identified key regions involved in this process, it remains unclear exactly how these regions are influencing choice behavior especially when choices become more challenging. The goal of this project is to understand how these regions, such as the cingulate cortex, impact difficult choice behavior. Specifically, the researchers are interested in learning how disruptions in cognitive control might impact choice preferences during difficult decisions in depressed patients. To do this, this study will recruit participants with depression (as well as healthy controls) to perform game-like tasks in the laboratory while undergoing TMS or TI.

Key Dates

Start date
Nov 11, 2019
Status verified
Dec 2025
Primary completion
Mar 31, 2028
Completion
Mar 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
500 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Participants with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
    Participants with MDD will complete computer tasks while receiving TMS/ TI
  • Active Comparator: Healthy Control
    Participants without MDD will complete computer tasks while receiving TMS/TI

Primary Outcome Measure

Staggered Effort-Based Decision-Making Task [ Time Frame: Day 1, during TMS/ TI stimulation ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia30322-

Find similar trials in Atlanta, GA

By condition
Depression
By specialty
PsychiatryMental healthBehavioral health
By research site
Emory University· Atlanta, GA

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