Testing personalized brain stimulation to ease negative emotions and rumination
Tests magnetic brain stimulation tailored to brain scans in adults with rumination, depression or anxiety.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Decoding and Modulating Affective Brain States
Key facts
- Where
- Philadelphia, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT05437705, who can take part
Where in United States
- University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Pennsylvania
- Trial code
- NCT05437705
- Record updated
- 3 September 2026
- Original description
The research study is being conducted to study brain patterns of negative emotion and develop personalized brain stimulation protocols to disrupt these patterns with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). First, the investigators will use functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data to generate a negative affect map for each participant. Then, the investigators will apply a variety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) sequences while the participant is inside the MRI scanner to determine the optimal and least optimal rTMS frequencies at changing negative affect brain states. Finally, these two frequencies will be tested over two 3-day rTMS neuromodulation sessions to assess whether they can reduce negative emotions.Read full original descriptionShow less
Decoding and Modulating Affective Brain States
The research study is being conducted to study brain patterns of negative emotion and develop personalized brain stimulation protocols to disrupt these patterns with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). First, the investigators will use functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data to generate a negative affect map for each participant. Then, the investigators will apply a variety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) sequences while the participant is inside the MRI scanner to determine the optimal and least optimal rTMS frequencies at changing negative affect brain states. Finally, these two frequencies will be tested over two 3-day rTMS neuromodulation sessions to assess whether they can reduce negative emotions.
Inclusion: 18-65 years old; Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 score) = or > than 10; Comprehension of instructions in the English language; Capacity to provide informed consent and follow study procedures; Availability for the duration of the study.
Exclusion: Recent use of psychoactive medications or substances as determined by investigators; Unable to have an MRI scan, or current or prior medical condition that could interfere with the collection or interpretation of MRI data; Refrain from substance use (including marijuana and illicit drugs) for duration of the study (self-attestation alone); Abstain from increasing caffeine intake or begin taking any new medications (self-attestation alone); Diagnosis of bipolar disorder (as PI discretion), schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder; History of neurological disorder or traumatic brain injury (other than mild); Implanted devices, such as an aneurysm clip or cardiac pacemaker; History of stroke, epilepsy, or brain scarring; Unable to receive or tolerate TMS; Pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant (self-attestation alone); During this study, participants are asked to:; Abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before the MRI scans (self-attestation alone).