MRI-tDCS Stress and Future Thinking Study

NCT07406503 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: tDCS FTS
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This academic study investigates how MRI-compatible transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) influences stress regulation and episodic future thinking in healthy volunteers. Participants undergo one MRI session: combining stress induction, tDCS (real or sham), and functional and metabolic MRI measurements. The study aims to better understand how non-invasive brain stimulation affects the neurophysiological and psychological mechanisms involved in stress processing and future-oriented thinking.

Conditions

Healthy Participants

Keywords

tDCS; Episodic Future Thinking; Stress Regulation; MRI; fMRI; ASL; Spectroscopy; Cortisol; Mood

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (13)

• Specificity score of episodic future thinking

  Specificity of episodic future thinking responses assessed using a standardized scoring procedure applied to imagined future events. Unit of Measure: EFT specificity score (units on a standardized scale)

  Baseline and immediately post-tDCS (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings - fatigue

  Self-reported tension measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) Unit of Measure:Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more fatigued.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Mean BOLD signal change during episodic future thinking

  Mean blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal change during the episodic future thinking task, averaged across predefined prefrontal-limbic regions of interest. Unit of Measure: Percent signal change (or beta coefficients from the general linear model)

  Baseline and immediately post-tDCS (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings -tension

  Self-reported tension measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more tensed.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings - vigor

  Self-reported vigor measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more vigor.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings - anger

  Self-reported anger measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more anger.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings - depressed mood

  Self-reported depressed mood measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more depressed mood.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings - cheerfulness

  Self-reported cheerfulness measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more cheerfulness.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Momentary mood ratings - stress

  Self-reported stress measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale. A higher score means more stress.

  Baseline; immediately post-tDCS; and immediately post-EFT paradigm (single study visit)

• Hippocampal glutamate concentration

  Hippocampal glutamate concentration measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). Unit of Measure: Institutional units

  Baseline and immediately post-tDCS (single study visit)

• Hippocampal GABA concentration

  Hippocampal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). Unit of Measure: Institutional units

  Baseline and immediately post-tDCS (single study visit)

• Hippocampal glutamine concentration

  Hippocampal glutamine concentration measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS).

  Baseline and immediately post-tDCS (single study visit)

• Hippocampal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration

  Hippocampal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). Unit of Measure: Institutional units

  Baseline and immediately post-tDCS (single study visit)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Salivary cortisol concentration

  Baseline, immediately post-tDCS, and immediately post-EFT task (single study visit)

• Cerebral blood flow

  Baseline and Periprocedural (during tDCS)

Other Outcomes (5)

• Depressive symptom severity

  Baseline (prior to any intervention)

• Body mass index

  Baseline (prior to any intervention)

• Trait rumination

  Baseline (prior to any intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Active Transcranial direct current stimulation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive MRI-compatible transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) using a constant current of 2 mA applied for 20 minutes. The anodal electrode (4 × 4 cm) is positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 position, neuronavigated) and the cathodal electrode over the contralateral orbitofrontal region. Stimulation is delivered while participants are in the MRI scanner.

Device: tDCS - Active non-invasive brain stimulation

Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants receive sham MRI-compatible transcranial direct current stimulation using the same electrode placement and setup as the active condition. The current is ramped up and down for approximately 30 seconds at the beginning of the session to mimic the initial sensation of stimulation, after which no current is delivered for the remainder of the 20-minute session. Stimulation is administered while participants are in the MRI scanner.

Device: tDCS - Sham non-invasive brain stimulation

Interventions

tDCS - Active non-invasive brain stimulation DEVICE

active non-invasive brain stimulation

Active Transcranial direct current stimulation

tDCS - Sham non-invasive brain stimulation DEVICE

Sham non-invasive brain stimulation

Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Men and women aged 18-30 years.
• Right-handed, healthy volunteers.
• Native Dutch speakers with normal or corrected vision.
• No current or past psychiatric or neurological disorder.
• MRI-compatible (no metal implants, pacemaker, etc.).
• Not taking psychotropic medication.
• Provided written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy.
• History of epilepsy or neurosurgery.
• Cardiovascular, neurological, or severe medical illness.
• Claustrophobia or intolerance to MRI environment.
• Tattoos or piercings that cannot be removed.
• Alcohol or caffeine consumption within the restricted window before scanning.
• Current use of psychoactive substances or psychotropic drugs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel: lead

Study Sites (1)

UZ Brussel

Brussels, Brussels Capital, 1090, Belgium

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 26, 2025
• First Posted: February 12, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2018
• Study Completion: October 1, 2021
• Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BE (1)