Brain Stimulation for Negative Emotions

Overseen By Wager D. Tor, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Trustees of Dartmouth College

Must not be taking: CNS-effective medications

Disqualifiers: Depression, Seizure disorder, Chronic pain, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

190 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether non-invasive brain stimulation, called transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS), can reduce negative affect, and how expectations shaped by care providers influence these effects. The main questions this study aims to answer are: (1)Does active tTIS reduce negative affect more effectively than sham (inactive) tTIS? (2)Do positive treatment expectations enhance the effects compared to negative expectations? Participants will: (1) Receive either active or sham tTIS. (2) Be provided with positive or negative messaging regarding treatment effectiveness. (3) Interact with care providers and complete assessments measuring negative affect and physiological responses.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals interested in exploring how brain stimulation and care provider expectations affect emotions. Participants will undergo non-invasive brain stimulation and receive messages about treatment effectiveness to measure changes in their emotional state.

Inclusion Criteria

Doctors are recruited from medical students at the Geisel School of Medicine and resident physicians at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC)

Participants must be capable of performing experimental tasks (e.g., are able to read), are fluent or native speakers of English

I can handle the highest level of heat pain.

Exclusion Criteria

I have no history or current diagnosis of depression, bipolar disorder, or any psychiatric condition.

I haven't had seizures, strokes, or major brain issues affecting thinking in the last 10 years.

I do not have frequent headaches or migraines.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Experiment 1

Participants complete four sessions with different combinations of active and sham tTIS and placebo messaging.

4 weeks

4 sessions (in-person)

Experiment 2

Participants complete two sessions focusing on placebo manipulation effects with sham tTIS.

2 weeks

2 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation (tTIS)

Trial Overview The study tests if transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) can lessen negative feelings, and whether positive or negative information from care providers alters this effect. It involves multiple sessions with different combinations of active/sham tTIS and placebo messaging.

Participant Groups

Group I: Experiment 2 - Crossover Order : Session F-E Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants complete all two experimental sessions in the following sequence: 1. Session F; 2. Session E

Group II: Experiment 2 - Crossover Order : Session E-F Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants complete all two experimental sessions in the following sequence: 1. Session E; 2. Session F

Group III: Experiment 1- Crossover Order: Session D-A-B-C Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants complete all four experimental sessions in the following sequence: 1. Session D; 2. Session A; 3. Session B; 4. Session C

Group IV: Experiment 1- Crossover Order: Session C-D-A-B Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants complete all four experimental sessions in the following sequence: 1. Session C; 2.Session D; 3. Session A; 4. Session B

Group V: Experiment 1- Crossover Order: Session B-C-D-A Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants complete all four experimental sessions in the following sequence: 1. Session B; 2. Session C; 3. Session D; 4. Session A

Group VI: Experiment 1 - Crossover Order: Session A-B-C-D Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants complete all four experimental sessions in the following sequence: 1. Session A; 2. Session B; 3. Session C; 4.Session D

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Trustees of Dartmouth College

Lead Sponsor

Trials

32

Recruited

14,500+