Frontlight ResearchEarly access
WithdrawnNo phase
Theta-burst Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TBS) of the Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus for Treatment of Nicotine Dependence
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- Trial code
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Started
- 1 Jul 2025
- Ended
- 1 Apr 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Continuous Theta-burst stimulation (cTBS)
- Sham Continuous Theta-burst stimulation (cTBS)
- Record updated
- 9 October 2026
- Why it stopped
- Study was submitted in preparation of potential NIH application being funded. However, the study was not funded.
Who can take part
- Age
- 18 years to 65 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Can take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 15 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- 18-65 yrs. of age
- Smoke > 5 cigarettes/day for ≥ 2 yrs, and expired carbon monoxide (CO) concentration of ≥ 8 ppm
- English Fluency
- Functional Vision (with corrective lenses as needed)
Who cannot take part
- Use of psychotropic and antiepileptic medications in the last month
- Electroconvulsive therapy in last 6 months
- Presence of an untreated illness or serious medical condition
- History of major neurological illness
- Contraindication to TMS (history of neurological disorder or seizure, increased intracranial pressure, brain surgery, or head trauma with loss of consciousness for >15 min., implanted electronic device, metal in the head)
- Any use of substances that lower seizure threshold
- Unstable cardiac disease or hypertension, severe renal or liver insufficiency, or sleep apnea
- Current or past psychosis
- BAC greater than 0.0
- Positive urine pregnancy test
- Any other concern that in the investigator's opinion would impact participant safety, study instruction compliance, or confound the interpretation of the study results
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The purpose of this research study is to examine the effects of theta-burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on inhibitory control and smoking among adult cigarette smokers. In a double-blind, sham controlled trial, investigators will examine the effects of 12 sessions of cTBS on executive function and smoking behavior.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Continuous Theta-burst stimulation (cTBS)Treatment being tested
Theta-burst stimulation (TBS), a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), affects brain areas stimulated directly underneath the scalp and brain areas that are functionally connected. Continuous TBS (cTBS) which is thought to temporarily dampen brain activity in that specific area.
- Sham Theta-burst stimulationSham treatment, for comparison
Treatment: Sham Continuous Theta-burst stimulation (cTBS)
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Record updated
- 9 October 2026