Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to the Frontoparietal Attention Network on Anxiety Potentiated Startle
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2020-06-29
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background:
Researchers want to better understand brain processes related to fear and anxiety. They want
to find out if transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a type of brain stimulation, can
reduce anxiety.
Objective:
To see how TMS affects fear and anxiety through memory and attention tasks.
Eligibility:
Healthy people ages 18-50 who are right-handed
Design:
Participants will be screened through another protocol.
Participants in the pilot study will have 1 visit. This includes:
Urine tests
Questionnaires about mood and thinking
Shock and startle workup: Electrodes are taped to the wrists or fingers. Participants will be
shocked to find out what level of shock is uncomfortable but tolerable. They will hear loud,
sudden noises through headphones.
TMS: A coil is held on the scalp. A magnetic field stimulates the brain. Sometimes they might
receive fake TMS. This feels the same as real TMS. They will perform simple tasks.
Participants in the main study will have 2 visits within 2 weeks.
The first visit includes:
Urine tests
Questionnaires about mood and thinking
MRI: Participants lie on a table that slides into a scanner. They will be in the scanner
about 1 hour. A computer screen in the scanner will tell them to perform simple tasks.
The second visit includes:
Shock and startle workup
TMS