Home › Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder › NCT06234969

A Mechanistic Trial of the Neurobiology of Extinction Learning and Intraparietal Sulcus Stimulation

Who can join

Ages 18 to 60 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult aged 18-60
* Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for PTSD according to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
* No metal implants

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Seizure disorder or epilepsy
* Increased risk of seizure
* Non-English speaking
* Any medical condition that increases risk for fMRI or cTBS
* Medical implant
* Hearing loss sufficient to interfere with startle
* Claustrophobia
* Recent medication or therapy changes (in the past 8 weeks)
* Current severe substance use disorder

About the study

This study will be the first of its kind to explore the impact of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) on arousal symptoms among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The investigators will demonstrate that IPS cTBS results in significant reduction in arousal (measured by startle response) compared to sham cTBS, that IPS cTBS interacts with extinction training to further improve arousal, and that there is a dose/response effect of cTBS on arousal. The investigators will also demonstrate that IPS cTBS significantly improves retention of extinction learning, the experimental analogue of exposure therapy.

What is being tested

• Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation to the Intraparietal Sulcus (device)
• Sham Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (device)

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Participants: 120 · Started: Apr 29, 2024

Contact the study team

• Lily A Brown, PhD · Phone: 2157463346

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06234969

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 3, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.