MedTrace Logo

Probing Homeostatic Plasticity With Priming Theta-burst Stimulation of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

NCT04031105 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 160

Last updated 2024-09-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Priming stimulation is a highly promising tool to boost the beneficial effects of therapeutic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in psychiatry. The potentiating effects of priming stimulation, however, depend on the time interval between the priming and the test stimulation. Although it is known that too short and too long intervals have no effects, systematic studies that identify the time needed to maximize efficacy have not yet been done. Thus, there is a need for studies to investigate the effects of priming stimulation in order to fully utilize the potential benefits and advantages of this promising new rTMS protocol. This study will systematically investigate the neuromodulatory process underlying priming stimulation to enhance metaplasticity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) - one of the main targets for therapeutic rTMS - in individuals with subclinical depression.

The brain is a highly plastic organ and its activity can be influenced using rTMS. At the same time, the brain also has a mechanism - called homeostatic metaplasticity - which counteracts extreme plastic changes. Homeostatic metaplasticity therefore can limit the beneficial effects of brain stimulation interventions. However, priming stimulation protocols that include both a priming and a test stimulation session may utilize homeostatic metaplasticity to increase the beneficial effects of brain stimulation, although the optimal treatment parameters for priming are not known. Moreover, little is known about homeostatic metaplasticity in the DLPFC, an area that is particularly relevant for psychiatric conditions given its role in the top-down control of emotions. Here, the investigators will systematically study metaplasticity using priming theta-burst stimulation (TBS), a potent form of rTMS in the left DLPFC. Changes in blood oxygenation that signal brain activity changes will be assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) at rest and during engagement in several cognitive tasks. The findings from this study will (1) elucidate the optimal time interval between priming and test stimulation; (2) elucidate the influence of priming TBS on emotion discrimination as well as executive function and its underlying brain activity in subclinical depression; and (3) validate homeostatic metaplasticity in the left DLPFC.

Conditions

  • Depression Minor

Interventions

DEVICE

Theta-burst stimulation (TBS)

intermittent (iTBS) and continuous (cTBS) will be applied at an intensity of 70% or 100%\* resting motor threshold (RMT) on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, position F3 (EEG 10-20 international system) \*The optimal %RMT will be evaluated in a pilot study before commencement of the main study

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Dr Georg Kranz

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-05-23
Primary Completion
2024-01-16
Completion
2024-01-16

Countries

  • Hong Kong

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04031105 on ClinicalTrials.gov