Studies of Cognition and Behavior Using Sham Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
University of California, Davis
Summary
The goal of this clinical study is to understand how a person's expectations about treatment can influence their mood, motivation, and reactions to everyday rewards. The study includes young people ages 15-25 who will complete a sham (placebo) version of an accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment. No active brain stimulation is given. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Do expectancy and treatment beliefs change during and after an accelerated sham TMS schedule? 2. Do these expectations influence mood, reward processing, or craving? 3. Does a more intensive schedule of sham sessions lead to different expectancy effects than a slower, once-daily schedule? Participants will: * Complete baseline clinical assessments and an MRI session * Undergo five days of accelerated sham TMS (no active brain stimulation is delivered) * Complete post-treatment MRI and follow-up assessments at 1 week and 4 weeks
Eligibility
- Age range
- 15–25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * English speaking * Able to provide informed consent (and assent if \< 18 years) * 15-25 years old * Slight-to-severe symptoms of depression Exclusion Criteria: * Past exposure to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation * Unable to consent (due to medical condition, psychosis, substance use, etc) * Acute suicidal crisis or with active medical illness that would interfere with participation * Contraindications to receiving MRI as determined by screening questionnaires (Contraindications for MRI include metal in the body related to an injury or surgery, for example, surgical cl…
Interventions
- DeviceTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation Sham
All study participants will receive sham TMS (no active stimulation will be provided).
Location
- UC Davis Medical CenterSacramento, California