TMS Alteration of the Reward Positivity

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Anhedonia
• Interventions: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

• Registration Number: NCT05443256
• Lead Sponsor: University of New Mexico

Brief Summary

The aim of this proposal is to demonstrate that stimulation of different brain regions differently affects the electroencephalographic feature known as the Reward Positivity (RewP).

Detailed Description

The aim of this proposal is to demonstrate that stimulation of different brain regions differently affects the electroencephalographic feature known as the Reward Positivity (RewP). The RewP is a sensitive and specific biomarker of reward receipt. This proposal will advance a causal test of the hypothesis that there are two major sources of variance that contribute to this brain response: a dorsal midline contribution to information encoding and a ventral midline contribution that is modulated by affect. Together, these findings will reveal how the RewP acts to blend multiple aspects of value together in the service of motivated learning. The objective of this proposal is to gather pilot data to demonstrate the feasibility of using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to perturb idiosyncratically-defined (fMRI-based) dorsal or ventral targets in order to causally test the hypothesis that these different sources contribute different types of variance to the RewP. TMS double cone deep coil stimulation should diminish +RPE encoding in the RewP when compared to sham. TMS Figure-8 coil stimulation should diminish affective modulation of RewP amplitude when compared to sham.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-06-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-06-29
• Study First Posted: 2022-07-05
• Study Start: 2022-08-01
• Primary Completion: 2023-11-17
• Study Completion: 2024-10-17
• Results First Submitted: 2024-11-06
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Results First Submitted QC: 2024-12-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-05
• Results First Posted: 2024-12-10
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 9

Inclusion Criteria

• Men or women aged 18-30

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants unwilling or unable to give informed consent
• Presence of other known medical or psychiatric comorbidity that in the investigator's opinion would compromise participation in the study
• MEG/MRI contraindications
• History of psychosis
• Not fluent in English

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Theta Stim	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation	To stimulate fMRI-informed individualized targets in dlPFC to diminish affective modulation of the RewP. Based on our working hypothesis, TMS Figure-8 coil stimulation should diminish affective modulation of RewP amplitude when compared to sham.
Sham Stim	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation	Sham stimulation. The Reward Positivity should be unaffected.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reward Positivity	During intervention	EEG Amplitude 200-400 ms following reward receipt

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of New Mexico - Logan hall; 🇺🇸 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States