Brain Oscillations and Neural States

NCT07635615 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024.01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study aims to investigate, through the use of electroencephalography (EEG), instantaneous brain states, namely rapid oscillations of the brain's electrical activity, and their relationship with behavior and brain functions. The study will focus on three main objectives: (1) establishing a relationship between brain oscillations and behavior; (2) establishing a relationship between brain oscillations and brain functions, in terms of neural responsiveness; and (3) identifying the different phases of brain oscillations and investigating any related modulations of behavior and brain functions. PHAROS will combine EEG with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate and modulate brain states non-invasively.

Conditions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimilation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Motor-evoked potential

  Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) will be recorded from the right index-finger abductor muscle following single-pulse TMS delivered over the primary motor cortex. MEPs will be used as an index of corticospinal excitability. The main outcome measure will be the peak-to-peak MEP amplitude, calculated as the difference between the maximum and minimum EMG signal within the post-stimulation time window.

  Baseline

• Motor-evoked potential

  Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) will be recorded from the right index-finger abductor muscle following single-pulse TMS delivered over the primary motor cortex. MEPs will be used as an index of corticospinal excitability. The main outcome measure will be the peak-to-peak MEP amplitude, calculated as the difference between the maximum and minimum EMG signal within the post-stimulation time window.

  Immediately after the intervention

• TMS-evoked potential

  TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) will be recorded using EEG following single-pulse TMS. TEPs will be used as an index of cortical responsiveness to stimulation. The main outcome measures will be the amplitude and latency of the main TEP components within predefined post-stimulation time windows.

  Baseline

• TMS-evoked potential

  TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) will be recorded using EEG following single-pulse TMS. TEPs will be used as an index of cortical responsiveness to stimulation. The main outcome measures will be the amplitude and latency of the main TEP components within predefined post-stimulation time windows.

  Immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Real motion

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be asked to perform a possible motor imagery task: imagining an abduction movement of the right index finger. Each session will consist of three blocks, counterbalanced across participants. During these blocks, single TMS pulses will be delivered at different phases of the EEG oscillation: positive peak, negative peak, and random phase, the latter serving as the control condition.

Other: Behavioral Treatment

No motion

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants will be asked to perform a possible motor imagery task: imagining the right index finger remaining still, which will serve as the control condition. Each session will consist of three blocks, counterbalanced across participants. During these blocks, single TMS pulses will be delivered at different phases of the EEG oscillation: positive peak, negative peak, and random phase, the latter serving as the control condition.

Other: Behavioral Treatment

Interventions

Behavioral Treatment OTHER

Imagining an abduction movement of the right index finger

Real motion

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy adults

You may not qualify if:

• Left-handedness (assessed through the Oldfield test)
• Diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Vision problems that prevent reading, not correctable with lenses
• Diagnosis of substance dependence on drugs or alcohol
• Presence of hearing aids/prostheses
• Diagnosis of epilepsy or family history up to the second degree with it
• Episodes of febrile convulsions or recurrent fainting
• Head trauma
• Presence of surgical clips or metal implants in the head
• Diagnosis of heart disease
• Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or artificial heart valve
• Presence of hearing aids/prostheses
• Hearing problems or tinnitus
• Vision problems not corrected with lenses (such as color blindness)
• Taking tricyclic antidepressant medications

Sponsors & Collaborators

• IRCCS San Camillo, Venezia, Italy: lead

Study Sites (1)

IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy

Venice-Lido, Italy

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Behavior Therapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 3, 2026
• First Posted: June 9, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 26, 2026
• Study Completion: February 26, 2026
• Last Updated: June 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)