Brain Stimulation and Brain Imaging to Study Reward Responses in Depression
Tests magnetic brain stimulation and how it changes reward responses in depression.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Causal Role of Rostromedial Prefrontal Cortex for Positive Savoring in Depression
Key facts
- Where
- Tallahassee, 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: NCT07467473, who can take part
Where in United States
- Florida State UniversityTallahassee, United StatesNo longer taking part
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
- Florida State University
- Trial code
- NCT07467473
- Record updated
- 20 May 2026
- Original description
This is a non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroimaging study that will examine how activity in the medial prefrontal cortex influences reward processing, particularly positive savoring, in individuals with depression. The central question is whether modulating medial prefrontal brain regions using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) alters neural and behavioral responses to rewards. Brain activity will be recorded using both electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants perform reward tasks. The primary objectives are to (1) identify patterns of brain activity linked to impaired reward processing in depression using EEG and fMRI, and (2) determine the causal role of specific prefrontal areas in these processes through targeted TMS. The methods include four sessions over four weeks: a clinical assessment, EEG recording during reward tasks after participants learn/practice positive savoring, an fMRI session, and a TMS session combined with EEG while participants practice positive savoring and perform reward tasks during EEG.Read full original descriptionShow less
Causal Role of Rostromedial Prefrontal Cortex for Positive Savoring in Depression
This is a non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroimaging study that will examine how activity in the medial prefrontal cortex influences reward processing, particularly positive savoring, in individuals with depression. The central question is whether modulating medial prefrontal brain regions using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) alters neural and behavioral responses to rewards. Brain activity will be recorded using both electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants perform reward tasks. The primary objectives are to (1) identify patterns of brain activity linked to impaired reward processing in depression using EEG and fMRI, and (2) determine the causal role of specific prefrontal areas in these processes through targeted TMS. The methods include four sessions over four weeks: a clinical assessment, EEG recording during reward tasks after participants learn/practice positive savoring, an fMRI session, and a TMS session combined with EEG while participants practice positive savoring and perform reward tasks during EEG.
Inclusion: Between the ages of 18 and 65; Able to provide informed consent; Have normal or corrected vision; Right handed; Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study; Speak and understand English; Not color blind; Acceptable suicide risk as determined by less than 5 on the Depression Symptom Index Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS); A diagnosis of major depressive disorder (current episode) on the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 (SCID-5); Between the ages of 18 and 65.
Exclusion: Prior brain surgery; Neurological disorders and conditions. Including but not limited to: history of epilepsy, seizures (except childhood febrile seizures), dementia, history of stroke, Parkindon's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral aneurysm, brain tumors; Medical or neurological illness or treatment for a medical disorder that could interfere with study participation. For example, unstable cardiac disease, HIV/AIDS, malignancy, liver or renal impairment; Any brain devices/implants, including cochlear implants and aneurysm clips, cardiac pacemaker, or any other implanted electronic device; History of current traumatic brain injury; DSM-5 diagnosis of present moderate or severe substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder, and past severe substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder; Based on the use of MRI, additional exclusion criteria are considered. These include participants having ferrous metal in their body, having non-removable jewelry that is ferrous, having tattoos on the face or neck, history of being a metal worker or having an eye injury involving metal; ADHD (currently under treatment); Pregnancy (for females); Claustrophobia; Anything that in the opinion of the investigator would place the participant at increased risk or preclude the participant's full compliance with or completion of the study.