Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a common and highly debilitating psychiatric disorder, however, the predisposing brain mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, the investigators will conduct a proof of concept study that will examine the effect of electroencephalography (EEG)-guided theta burst stimulation (TBS) on reducing mania/hypomania-related affect and reward driven behavior in adults with BD. The investigators hypothesize that TBS will reduce mania/hypomania-related affect and reward driven behavior in adults with BD.
This study aims to examine the effect of electroencephalography (EEG)-guided theta burst stimulation (TBS) on reducing mania/hypomania-related affect and reward driven behavior in adults with BD. Eligible participants will undergo 6 study visits: a screening visit, a baseline MRI visit, TBS motor thresholding visit, and 3 cTBS/EEG visits. Participants will receive brain stimulation and have brain activity recorded by EEG at each of the 3 cTBS/EEG study visits. The research associates (except for the research associate administering the TBS) and participants will be blinded to the brain area receiving TBS, which will be randomized and counterbalanced beforehand. Certain information is withheld to protect the scientific integrity of the study design. The goal of the study is to reduce overactivity in the reward neural network (RNet) and increase activity in the central executive control network (CEN) using theta burst stimulation (TBS). The region in the RNet to be targeted by inhibitory (continuous, cTBS) is the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC); and the region in the CEN to be targeted by excitatory (intermittent, iTBS) is the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
13
cTBS is a brief stimulation of a part of the brain with a magnetic field that passes through the scalp and skull safely that can decrease the excitability of cortical neurons. It is FDA-approved as a treatment for psychological conditions including depression; however, this device is not approved for the treatment of adults with Bipolar Disorder I or for use in healthy adults. This research study is using the cTBS off label in all participants (those with and without Bipolar Disorder I) to examine research questions
iTBS is a brief stimulation of a part of the brain with a magnetic field that passes through the scalp and skull safely to increase the excitability of cortical neurons. It is FDA-approved as a treatment for psychological conditions including depression; however, this device is not approved for the treatment of adults with Bipolar Disorder I or for use in healthy adults. This research study is using the cTBS off label in all participants (those with and without Bipolar Disorder I) to examine research questions.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Brain Activity (Beta Power) in Left vLPFC
The difference in brain activity (Beta power) in left vLPFC from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more brain activity after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less brain activity (Beta power) after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of brain activity (Beta power) immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Brain Activity (Beta Power) in Right vLPFC
The difference in brain activity (Beta power) in right vLPFC from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more brain activity (Beta power) after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less brain activity (Beta power) after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of brain activity (Beta power) immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Brain Activity (Beta Power) in Left dlPFC
The difference in brain activity (Beta power) in left dLPFC from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more brain activity (Beta power) after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less brain activity (Beta power) after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of brain activity (Beta power) immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Brain Activity (Beta Power) in Right dlPFC
The difference in brain activity (Beta power) in right dLPFC from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more brain activity (Beta power) after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less brain activity (Beta power) after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of brain activity (Beta power) immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Functional Connectivity Between Left and Right vLPFC
The difference in functional connectivity (a measure of interactions between 2 brain regions) among left and right vLPFC from preTBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more functional connectivity after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less functional connectivity after TBS.
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Time frame: Change in magnitude of the functional connectivity immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Functional Connectivity Between vLPFC and Other RNet Regions
The difference in functional connectivity (a measure of interactions between 2 brain regions) among vLPFC and other RNet regions from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more functional connectivity after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less functional connectivity after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of functional connectivity immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Functional Connectivity Between dlPFC With Other CEN Regions
The difference in functional connectivity (a measure of interactions between 2 brain regions) among dlPFC and other RNet regions from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more functional connectivity after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less functional connectivity after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of functional connectivity immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Brain Activity (Beta Power) in Other RNet and CEN Regions
The difference in brain activity (Beta power) among other RNet and CEN regions from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more brain activity (Beta power) after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less brain activity (Beta power) after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of brain activity (Beta power) immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Functional Connectivity Among Other RNet and CEN Regions
The difference in functional connectivity (a measure of interactions between 2 brain regions) among other RNet and CEN regions from pre TBS to post TBS. Higher numbers indicate more functional connectivity after TBS, while lower numbers indicate less functional connectivity after TBS.
Time frame: Change in magnitude of functional connectivity immediately before and immediately after each TBS condition at EEG/TBS visits (15-30 mins)
Immediate Choices Made on the Delay Discounting Task
The sum (overall total) of the immediate choices (choosing to receive a small immediate reward) made on the delay discounting task
Time frame: 15-30 minutes