Investigating whether delta-beta cross-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation can increase goal-directed behavior in participants with major depressive disorder and elevated symptoms of anhedonia.
The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the causal role that delta-beta coupling plays in goal-directed behavior in participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) and symptoms of anhedonia. The participants will perform a reward-based decision-making task. During the task, cross-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) will be delivered at delta-beta frequency, a control-frequency, or an active sham. Electroencephalography will be collected in intermittent resting-state periods. Structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be collected during the resting-state and during performance of the task.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
35
Stimulation will be delivered via the NeuroConn Direct Current Stimulator Plus, an investigational electrical non-invasive brain stimulation device that is being used for foundational neuroscience and translational research.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Change in the Percentage of Trials That the Participant Chooses to Perform the Hard Task
In the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task, participants are faced with a decision on every trial: to choose an easy task with a low effort exertion for a chance at winning a low amount of money or a hard task with a high effort exertion for a chance at winning a greater amount of money. The incentive for the high effort exertion is changed on each trial and the participant gets physically tired from repeated effort exertion. Goal-directed behavior was calculated as the percentage of trials in which the participant decides to perform the high effort exertion. The average of the 4 blocks prior to stimulation served as a baseline (1st hour). The effect of the intervention was the average of the next 8 blocks during stimulation (hours 2 through 3).
Time frame: Baseline (Hour 1), Stimulation (Hours 2 through 3)
Change in Coupling Strength Between Low-frequency Prefrontal Signals and High-frequency Posterior Signals
Coupling strength was estimated using the Mean Vector Length calculation between the phase of low-frequency electrical activity in prefrontal electrodes and amplitude of high-frequency activity in posterior cortex. A hybrid signal was created using high-frequency amplitude and low-frequency phase. The magnitude of the average of this signal over time is the coupling strength. Coupling strength was normalized using a z-transformation relative to a null distribution generated by randomly time-shifting the high-frequency data relative to the low-frequency data (z-score). A value of zero represents no coupling. A higher value represents greater coupling strength, which is generally associated with better cognition. Values range from -3 to 3 and a score greater than 1.6 means the coupling is present. The average of the 4 blocks prior to stimulation served as a baseline (1st hour). The effect of the intervention was the average of the next 8 blocks during stimulation (hours 2 through 3).
Time frame: Baseline (Hour 1), Stimulation (Hours 2 through 3)
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