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Neural Mechanisms of Temporal Interference Stimulation on Improving Social Reward Function in Depression

NCT07287878 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 120

Last updated 2025-12-24

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized primarily by low mood, diminished interest, and reduced energy. Traditional views considered depression a non-degenerative condition; however, recent epidemiological studies have revealed its significant association with impaired social functioning. Data indicate that 59.3% of patients with depression experience social dysfunction of varying severity \[1\], particularly manifesting as difficulties in social interaction and relationship maintenance \[2\]. Therefore, investigating the mechanisms underlying social dysfunction is of great importance for promoting functional recovery in MDD, and dysfunction within the social reward system may represent a core factor, though the specific neural mechanisms remain unclear.

The ultimate goal of understanding the neural mechanisms underlying social reward impairment in depressed patients is to improve therapeutic outcomes. Temporal Interference (TI) stimulation, as a non-invasive deep brain stimulation technique, utilizes high-frequency current differentials to generate low-frequency amplitude-modulated electric fields, enabling precise targeting of deep brain regions. This study employs multimodal assessment methods-such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and specific cognitive-behavioral tasks-combined with TI stimulation to observe immediate changes in functional connectivity, neural activity, and related cognitive functions (e.g., decision-making, memory) across participant groups. The research aims to elucidate the roles of the parahippocampal gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, and striatum in social reward impairment in depression, and to explore circuit-based intervention targets, thereby providing novel strategies for the recovery of social functioning in MDD.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Temporal Interference Simulation(TIS)

the total stimulation duration was 20 minutes, including a 40-second current ramp-up at the beginning and a 40-second ramp-down at the end.

DEVICE

Temporal Interference Stimulation(TIS)

Sham stimulation has only 40 seconds of current ramping-up and ramping-down at the beginning and end of the stimulation to simulate the sensation of actual stimulation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Shanghai Mental Health Center

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
16 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-11-15
Primary Completion
2026-05-10
Completion
2026-07-10

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

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 NCT07287878 on ClinicalTrials.gov