Study to Develop and Test Brain Stimulation Methods for Learning and Decision-Making in Healthy Adults Ages 18 to 45

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, may change brain activity to help understand and potentially influence behaviors related to substance use disorder. This early phase study focuses on healthy volunteers aged 18 to 45 who are right-handed, aiming to develop and validate TMS protocols targeting specific cognitive functions involved in learning and decision-making. The study is designed to explore brain network activity and cognitive task performance through neuromodulation. Participants can join up to five different experiments, each involving 2 to 8 visits lasting 3 to 7 hours. Some visits include TMS using devices that deliver theta burst stimulation in different patterns continuous, intermittent, or sham by placing a coil on the head to create magnetic fields. Other visits involve functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI scans where participants perform computer tasks inside the scanner to observe brain activity. Tasks may include looking at images, listening to sounds, smelling odors, or tasting flavored liquids. During the study, participants perform cognitive tasks on a computer, sometimes during TMS or fMRI sessions, while their vital signs and eye movements are monitored. Researchers measure task performance after each intervention to evaluate how neuromodulation affects cognitive functions and brain networks. The study monitors safety carefully and assesses how different TMS protocols influence brain activity related to learning and decision-making over the course of participation.

Developing Transcranial Neuromodulation Protocols for Learning and Decision-Making