Investigators are conducting this study to test if temporarily and non-invasively stimulating the brain will affect the emotional response to stress in healthy participants. Participants will perform a series of tasks while completing an MRI scan. After this, participants will be randomized to undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at two visits, undergoing active stimulation at one visit and undergoing 'sham' stimulation at another visit. Immediately following both stimulation sessions, participants will repeat the tasks during MRI scanning.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
55
This intervention involves an active form of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) that will be targeted to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex based on neural navigation software. cTBS will be delivered in one session, lasting a few minutes, before participants complete additional testing.
This intervention involves an sham form of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) that will be targeted to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex based on neural navigation software. cTBS will be delivered in one session, lasting a few minutes, before participants complete additional testing.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGDorsal anterior cingulate cortex activation to stress
Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal in a dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) region of interest mask extracted from the incongruent (stress) vs congruent (control) contrast.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex connectivity to stress
Generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) estimate reflecting stressor-evoked dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) functional connectivity to the anterior insula, amygdala, and periaqueductal gray.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Change in arousal during stress
Rating on a modified self-assessment manikin scale (SAM) measuring subjective ratings of arousal ("To what extent do you feel calm?" 1 - very calm, 9 - very aroused) following the psychological stressor task compared to a pre-stressor baseline.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Change in valence during stress
Rating on a modified self-assessment manikin scale (SAM) measuring subjective ratings of valence ("To what extent do you feel happy vs unhappy?" 1 - very unhappy, 9 - very unhappy) following the psychological stressor task compared to a pre-stressor baseline.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Change in perceived control during stress
Rating on a modified self-assessment manikin scale (SAM) measuring subjective ratings of perceived control ("To what extent do you feel in control?" 1 - very little control, 9 - very much control) following the psychological stressor task compared to a pre-stressor baseline.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Systolic blood pressure response to stress
The difference in systolic blood pressure (in mmHg) obtained during the psychological stress task compared to a resting pre-stressor period.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Heart rate response to stress
The difference in heart rate (in beats per minute) obtained during the psychological stress task compared to a resting pre-stressor period.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF)
Cerebral blood flow (in mL/g/min) obtained at rest within a dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) region of interest.
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (PANAS-X)
Time frame: 30-60 mins post-stimulation
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