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Identify the Optimal TMS Target to Modulate Reward Activity
Identify the Optimal TMS Target to Modulate Midcingulate Reward Activity in Smokers
Who can join
Ages 18 to 55 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Nicotine dependent individuals (according to the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test nicotine dependence score). 2. Be between the ages of 18 and 55 years old. 3. Not received substance abuse treatment within the previous 30 days. 4. Be in stable mental and physical health. 5. If female, test non-pregnant. 6. No evidence of focal or diffuse brain lesion on MRI. 7. Be willing to provide informed consent. 8. Be able to comply with protocol requirements and likely to complete all study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Contraindication to MRI (e.g., presence of metal in the skull, orbits or intracranial cavity, claustrophobia). 2. Contraindication to rTMS (history of neurological disorder or seizure, increased intracranial pressure, brain surgery, or head trauma with loss of consciousness for \> 15 minutes, implanted electronic device, metal in the head, or pregnancy). 3. History of autoimmune, endocrine, viral, or vascular disorder affecting the brain. 4. History or MRI evidence of neurological disorder that would lead to local or diffuse brain lesions or significant physical impairment. 5. Life time history of mental disorders such as: Bipolar Affective disorder (BPAD), Schizophrenia, Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) or Dementia or Major Depression. 6. uninterruptable central nervous system medication
About the study
Our primary goal will be to identify the optimal prefrontal-cingulate target by systematically measuring the efficacy of various image-based targeting techniques to increase the reward positivity using the 10-Hz TMS protocol in dependent smokers. Our secondary objective will be to measure the targets' effectiveness to increase decision-making capacity using the probabilistic selection task (PST). Our third objective will be to specifically assess whether the TMS targets has a differential impact on state levels of craving relative to baseline (Tobacco Craving Questionnaire \[TCQ\]. We plan to accomplish these three objectives using a randomized, controlled experiment involving 3 sessions.
What is being tested
- Active 10-Hz TMS to the DLPFC (device)
- Sham TMS-DLPFC (device)
Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Participants: 36 · Started: Mar 24, 2023
Contact the study team
- Travis E Baker, PhD · Phone: 973-353-5485
- Nicole Lalta · Phone: 973-353-3509
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05766254
Locations in the U.S.
| New Jersey | Rutgers University - Newark, Newark |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.