Brain Stimulation and Decision-making
Decision-making is an important process that is frequently shown to be impaired in patients with depression. While a number of preclinical and clinical studies have identified key regions involved in this process, it remains unclear exactly how these regions are influencing choice behavior especially when choices become more challenging. The goal of this project is to understand how these regions, such as the cingulate cortex, impact difficult choice behavior. Specifically, the researchers are interested in…
Conditions studied
Depression
About this study
Decision-making is an important process that is frequently shown to be impaired in patients with depression. While a number of preclinical and clinical studies have identified key regions involved in this process, it remains unclear exactly how these regions are influencing choice behavior especially when choices become more challenging. The goal of this project is to understand how these regions, such as the cingulate cortex, impact difficult choice behavior. Specifically, the researchers are interested in learning how disruptions in cognitive control might impact choice preferences during difficult decisions in depressed patients. To do this, this study will recruit participants with depression (as well as healthy controls) to perform game-like tasks in the laboratory while undergoing TMS or TI.
Interventions
- Device: Neurostimulation — Participants will be seated comfortably in a chair and asked to complete simple computer tasks. Participants will receive neurostimulation in the form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or Temporal Interference (TI). TMS: Either during, or just before any of the tasks, participants will receive either repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or single pulse TMS. During this, the researchers place a small plastic coil next to the participant's head. The coil will then generate a magnetic pulse, and stimulation will occur during presentation of the visual stimuli on which subjects will conduct behavioral or cognitive tasks. TI: Either during, or just before, any of the above tasks, participants will receive stimulation with TI. To do so, commercially available gel-based electrodes will be placed on the scalp to target the relevant brain region. The position targeted by the electrodes will be guided by previously defined coordinates.
Primary outcomes
- Staggered Effort-Based Decision-Making Task (Day 1, during TMS/ TI stimulation)
Eligibility information
Study locations
- Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.