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Olfactory Transcranial Focused Ultrasound
Modulation of Olfactory Valence by Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS)
Who can join
Ages 18 to 65 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-65 years * Healthy adult volunteers * Normal olfactory function (Sniffin' Sticks total TDI ≥ 30.75) * Ability to provide informed consent * English fluency sufficient for task completion Exclusion Criteria: * MRI or tFUS contraindications (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy) * Sinonasal conditions affecting airflow or smell * Current use of medications that alter olfaction * Positive urine drug screen
About the study
This study investigates the causal effects of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) on odor valence perception and odor-elicited avoidance behaviors in healthy adults. Participants undergo sham and active tFUS targeting the amygdala (AMYG) and ventral striatal olfactory tubercle (VSOT) in a within-subject, randomized, sham-controlled crossover design. Outcomes include subjective odor ratings and objective neurophysiological and behavioral indices of odor valence processing. This research is exploratory and mechanistic in nature and is not intended to evaluate clinical safety or therapeutic efficacy.
What is being tested
- transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) (device)
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina · Participants: 28 · Started: Oct 1, 2026
Contact the study team
- Nicole Cash, Study Coordinator · Phone: 843-790-3449
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07658365
Locations in the U.S.
| South Carolina | Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 7, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.