Concurrent TMS-fMRI
Neural Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Using Concurrent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 18 Years to 65 Years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
- Visits mentioned: 2 visits
- Procedures mentioned: MRI scans
Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.
Show the study's own words
- "The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the neural mechanisms underlying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in both healthy controls (HCs) and patients with high negative affect symptoms, such as depression."
- "Undergo several brain scans, including resting-state fMRI, structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and task fMRI 3."
- "The purpose of this study is to examine the neural mechanisms underlying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)."
- "Participants will undergo two visits, the first lasting about two hours and the second, scheduled within one week of the first, also lasting about two hours."
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
In plain language
This study looks at how TMS, which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain, affects brain activity during MRI scans. It compares single and repeated pulses and asks whether their effects can predict symptoms such as depression. It is for adults ages 18–65 with major depression and healthy adults.
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the neural mechanisms underlying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in both healthy controls (HCs) and patients with high negative affect symptoms, such as depression. Approximately half male and half female participants aged 18-65 will be recruited. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the acute/transient effect induced by single-pulse TMS related to the long-term modulatory effect induced by repetitive TMS (rTMS)? 2. Do any of these effects predict negative affect symptoms, such as depression? Participants will: 1. Complete several tests to assess their cognitive abilities and emotional states 2. Undergo several brain scans, including resting-state fMRI, structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and task fMRI 3. Have two different types of TMS sequences, single-pulse and repetitive pulses, administered to specific brain regions while undergoing fMRI
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- Be 18–65 years old.
- Speak English.
- Be able to understand the study and agree to take part.
- For the depression group: have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
- For the healthy group: have no past mental health diagnosis or treatment, and score below 4 on both the PHQ-9 depression survey and GAD-7 anxiety survey.
Who can't join
- Have epilepsy or another seizure disorder, or metal drawn to magnets implanted in your face or skull near the area being stimulated.
- Have an implanted device that is not MRI-safe, such as a pacemaker or heart stent, or metal in your body, such as bullets or metal pieces.
- Have claustrophobia, meaning fear of closed spaces, or be pregnant.
- Have uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood flow problems, serious heart disease, or a history of heart or blood vessel disease.
- Take opiate pain medicine, blood pressure medicine, or any medicine that affects blood flow.
- Have had deep brain stimulation, repeated TMS, or tDCS, a treatment that uses weak electrical currents to stimulate the brain.
- Have a history of brain or nerve disorders, brain surgery, radiation treatment, brain bleeding or tumor, stroke, diabetes, or a serious brain injury.
- Be unwilling to avoid illegal drugs throughout the study or alcohol for 24 hours before scans.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion for patients: * Diagnosis of major depressive disorder * Age greater than or equal to 18 years * Age less than or equal to 65 years * Able to understand and consent for research participation * English-speaking Inclusion for healthy controls: * Report no lifetime psychiatric diagnosis and treatment * scores on Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) lower than 4 * Age greater than or equal to 18 years * Age less than or equal to 65 years * Able to understand and consent for research participation * English-speaking Exclusion for all subjects: * Age less than 18 years * Age greater than 65 years * With epilepsy or seizure disorder * With implanted ferromagnetic equipment in their face or skull near the stimulation target MRI Exclusion criteria for all subjects: * Implanted device including pacemaker, coronary stent, defibrillator, or neurostimulation device that is not MRI-compatible * Metal in body including bullets, shrapnel, metal slivers * Claustrophobia * Uncontrolled high blood pressure * Blood circulation problems * Opiate medication, antihypertensive medication, or any medication that interferes with blood flow (interferes with fMRI recordings) * Significant heart disease, such as atrial fibrillation * Pregnancy in female participants * Prior exposure to deep brain stimulation, rTMS, or tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) therapies * History of neurological or cardiovascular disorders, brain surgery, radiation treatment, brain hemorrhage or tumor, stroke, or diabetes * Significant traumatic brain injury (loss of consciousness, post-injury amnesia, significant radiological/neurological findings, penetrating brain injury) * Refusal to abstain from illicit drug use for duration of the study * Refusal to abstain from alcohol within 24 hours of scans If you would like to participate in the study, click this link to fill out the Screening Form: https://redcap.icts.uiowa.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=DEYHWF8TMCHHW4Y7. Kindly note that our research team will contact you directly only if you meet the eligibility criteria for the study. Due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to reply to individual inquiries or provide feedback about eligibility decisions.
Study sites (1)
IA
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine · Iowa City, IA 52242More trials in Iowa City