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Using TMS to Understand Neural Processes of Social Motivation

Personalized Neuromodulation Targeting Dysregulated Motivational Responses Underlying Social Avoidance Behavior

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06274112
Enrollment
40
Registered
2024-02-23
Start date
2025-09-30
Completion date
2029-07-31
Last updated
2026-03-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Avoidant Behavior

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to better understand the neural circuits associated with social motivation. Participant includes four study visits each that range from 1.5 - 3.0 hours in duration over approximately a one month period. The first study visit involves answering survey questions, a clinical interview, and computer tasks. The second study visit involves a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computer tasks, and a brief TMS protocol. The second and third study visits involve a full session of TMS followed by an MRI scan and computer tasks. Adults in the Auburn/Opelika area and surrounding areas who avoid social situations, experience symptoms of depression or social anxiety, and are between 25 years old and 50 years old are eligible to participate.

Interventions

DEVICETMS

TMS will be administered using a Cool B-65 coil to a personalized right dlPFC region.

Sponsors

Auburn University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Intervention model description

All participants will receive each dose of TMS in a counterbalanced order (AB or BA)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* A diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder OR a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder (assessed/confirmed at screening visit). * Scoring above clinical threshold on a measure of social avoidant behavior (assessed/confirmed at phone screen).

Exclusion criteria

* Unstable psychotropic medication regimen (i.e., changes in psychotropic medication or dosage in past 3 months). * Current or lifetime diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. * A diagnosis of substance use disorder within past 12 months. * A diagnosis of psychotic-spectrum disorder such as Schizophrenia. * Pregnancy or probable pregnancy. * Medical illness or medical treatment that would preclude or inhibit study participation. * Neurological disorder associated with brain damage. * History of seizures or head trauma with loss of consciousness \> 5 minutes. * Family history of epilepsy or personal epilepsy/seizures * Ferromagnetic implants or ferrmagnetic objects within body (e.g., pacemaker).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Social motivationImmediately post-interventionMotivational responses to facial expressions as measured by the Social Approach Avoidance Paradigm (SAAP; Evans, Esterman, \& Britton, 2022). In the SAAP, participants self-report how much they would like to approach or avoid emotional facial expressions.
Neural circuit functionImmediately post-interventionBrain connectivity during motivational responses to facial expression during the Social Approach-Avoidance Paradigm (SAAP; Evans, Esterman, \& Britton, 2022) and during resting state conditions. In the SAAP, participants self-report how much they would like to approach or avoid emotional facial expressions. During resting state conditions, participants simply lie still with their eyes open without completing any type of task.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 4, 2026