Empirical Validation of a Cerebellar-cortical Hallucination Circuit
Mclean Hospital
Summary
This study uses a noninvasive technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study how hallucinations work in schizophrenia. TMS is a noninvasive way of stimulating the brain, using a magnetic field to change activity in the brain. The magnetic field is produced by a coil that is held next to the scalp. In this study the investigators will be stimulating the brain to learn more about how TMS might improve these symptoms of schizophrenia.
Description
This study tests the hypothesis that hallucinations in schizophrenia are mediated by network pathophysiology, and that network pathophysiology can be quantified by the functional connectivity of a cerebellar-thalamo-cortical circuit. To accomplish this, participants will be recruited who are diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who experience auditory hallucinations. Participants will undergo an initial screening session to complete informed consent and undergo baseline assessments of schizophrenia symptom severity. These assessments include reporter-based measures such as…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder Exclusion Criteria: * substance use disorder in past 3 months * ambidexterity * contraindications for TMS or MRI including : * history of neurological disorder * history of head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness * history of seizures or diagnosis of epilepsy or first degree relative family history of epilepsy * metal in brain or skull * implanted devices such as a pacemaker, medication pump, nerve stimulator or ventriculoperitoneal shunt * claustrophobic in MRI
Interventions
- DeviceRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
rTMS is a technique of TMS that allows for selective external manipulation of neural activity in a non-invasive manner. During rTMS a rapidly changing current is passed through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. This generates a temporary magnetic field, which in turn induces electrical current in neurons and allows for modulation of neural circuitry. The rTMS pulses will be delivered in a pattern consisting of 2 s trains of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz every 10s for 600 total pulses.
- DeviceSham Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
rTMS is a technique of TMS that allows for selective external manipulation of neural activity in a non-invasive manner. During rTMS a rapidly changing current is passed through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. This generates a temporary magnetic field, which in turn induces electrical current in neurons and allows for modulation of neural circuitry. The rTMS pulses will be delivered in a pattern consisting of 2 s trains of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz every 10s for 600 total pulses. Sham is achieved by using a coil with a magnetic shield preventing magnetic field from reaching the head.
Location
- McLean HospitalBelmont, Massachusetts