Study on the Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Perception of Emotional Images

NCT07191275 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-01622
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 33
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of the current clinical trial is to investigate whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over specific brain areas can influence the perception of emotional images and emotional memory. TMS is a non-invasive superficial brain stimulation generated by a magnetic field. The results of the study aim to provide valuable insights for the use of TMS in the investigation of mental processes.

Conditions

Emotional Memory

Keywords

memory; emotional memory; transcranial magnetic stimulation; emotional valence; emotional arousal

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Emotional valence for aversive pictures

  The mean valence rating of aversive pictures as assessed by a visual analogue scale assessed directly after TMS.

  Immediately after the intervention, lasting for approximately 7 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Emotional arousal

  Immediately after the intervention, lasting for approximately 7 minutes

• Aversive episodic memory

  Approximately one hour after the intervention

Other Outcomes (3)

• Emotional valence for non-aversive pictures

  Immediately after the intervention, lasting for approximately 7 minutes

• Emotional arousal for non-aversive pictures

  Immediately after the intervention, lasting for approximately 7 minutes

• Non-aversive episodic memory

  Approximately one hour after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Participants starting with experimental condition

EXPERIMENTAL

Bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz to the temporo-occipital cortex

Device: Experimental continuous 30 Hz thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation; Device: Control continuous 30 Hz thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation

Participants starting with control condition

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Active control condition using bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz to the superior parietal cortex

Device: Experimental continuous 30 Hz thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation; Device: Control continuous 30 Hz thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation

Interventions

Experimental continuous 30 Hz thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation DEVICE

Bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz to the temporo-occipital cortex * Frequency: trains of 30 Hz (3 pulses) every 167 ms (frequency of 6 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 100% of resting motor threshold (rMT) * Location: consecutively on left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI: -47, -77, 4; 50, -69, -4) * Duration: 33.3 seconds for each side * Timing: Immediately before showing IAPS pictures (off-line)

Also known as: cTBS 30Hz, TMS cTBS 30Hz

Participants starting with control condition; Participants starting with experimental condition

Control continuous 30 Hz thetaburst transcranial magnetic stimulation DEVICE

Active control condition using bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz to the superior parietal cortex * Frequency: trains of 30 Hz (3 pulses) every 167 ms (frequency of 6 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 100% of resting motor threshold (rMT) * Location: consecutively on left and right superior parietal cortex (MNI: -17, -70, 60; 17, -70, 60) * Duration: 33.3 seconds * Timing: Immediately before showing IAPS pictures (off-line)

Also known as: cTBS 30Hz, TMS cTBS 30 Hz

Participants starting with control condition; Participants starting with experimental condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Generally healthy
• Normotensive (BP 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg)
• BMI: 18 - 30 kg/m2
• Fluent in speaking German

You may not qualify if:

• Metal in the head area (e.g., splinters, fragments, clips, etc.)
• Implanted neurostimulator (e.g., DBS, epidural/subdural, VNS)
• Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines
• Medication infusion device
• Tattoos (head area) less than 3 months old or older than 20 years
• Condition after neurosurgery
• Hearing problems or tinnitus
• Not able to sit still due to tremor, tics, itching
• History of repeated syncope
• Head trauma diagnosed as concussion or associated with loss of consciousness
• diagnosis of epilepsy, or a convulsion or a seizure in the past of the participant or his/her close family (parents and siblings)
• TMS in the past showing problems
• Spinal or ventricular derivations
• Positive pregnancy test
• Alcohol intake 12 hours before TMS visits

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MD: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Basel, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience

Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4055, Switzerland

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Dominique de Quervain, MD

  University of Basel, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ehssan Amini, MD

CONTACT

+41 61 207 02 26; ehssan.amini@unibas.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director Division of Cognitive Neuroscience

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 17, 2025
• First Posted: September 24, 2025
• Study Start: November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Access Criteria: All IPD (de-identified) that underlie results in a publication will be shared upon reasonable request for scientific purposes. A reasonable request consists of a short description of the scientific purpose. Requests will be reviewed by the team of the principle investigator.

Locations

CH (1)