Protocol Number: 03-N-0231

Title:

Noninvasive Stimulation of Human Deep Brain Regions With a Magnetic Stimulator

Number:

03-N-0231

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a special coil designed for magnetic stimulation of areas deep in the brain can affect mood and emotion in healthy volunteers. Researchers hope to better understand how the brain controls mood and motivation and what goes wrong with this process in disease.

For transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a wire coil is held over the scalp. A brief electrical current passes through the coil and creates a magnetic pulse that stimulates the brain.

Eighteen participants, 9 men and 9 women, will be enrolled in this study. They will be assigned to one or both of the following two experiments.

Experiment 1

In this experiment, researchers will test the effectiveness of a new type of wire coil. They will deliver magnetic impulses of varying strength. Approximately 150 stimulations will be given over of about 20 minutes. To determine whether the coil causes any problem with hearing, participants will undergo a hearing test immediately before and after the experiment.

Experiment 2

This experiment, which has two parts, is designed to determine whether TMS can affect mood. In the first part, participants will be asked to report any changes in mood before, during and after the magnetic stimulation. In the second part, they will be asked to choose between sets of 2 identical pictures-choosing one will result in full magnetic stimulation, choosing the other will result in stimulation at 10 percent of full intensity.

Participants will be compensated up to $100 for their involvement in this study.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

The study is planned for adult subjects with normal neurologic and psychiatric examinations.

Healthy male and female volunteers will be included in this protocol.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

History of surgery with metallic implants or known history of metallic particles in the eye, cardiac pacemaker, neurostimulators, cochlear implants, history of drug abuse, psychiatric illness, hypertension, or concurrent medication.

Children are also excluded.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Motor Cortex

Mood

Reward

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Magnetic Coil

Recruitment Keywords:

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Conditions:

Healthy

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Contacts:

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:

Breiter HC, Rosen BR. Functional magnetic resonance imaging of brain reward circuitry in the human. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999 Jun 29;877:523-47. Review. PMID: 10415669

Breiter HC, et al., Acute effects of cocaine on human brain activity and emotion. Neuron. 1997 Sep;19(3):591-611. PMID: 9331351

Eaton H. Electric field induced in a spherical volume conductor from arbitrary coils: application to magnetic stimulation and MEG. Med Biol Eng Comput. 1992 Jul;30(4):433-40. PMID: 1487945

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
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