Modulating Goal-directed Navigation Using Noninvasive Brain Stimulation

NCT ID: NCT05801861

Last Updated: 2025-11-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-03-24
• Study Completion Date: 2026-08-31

Brief Summary

Our specific aim is to examine the effects of TMS on spatial processing during goal-directed navigation. In these experiments the investigators will utilize a scalp-recorded brain oscillation called right posterior theta that is believed to index the sensitivity of the parahippocampal cortex to spatial context. Here the investigators will asked whether this electrophysiological signal can be modulated up or down using TMS while participants engage in virtual navigation tasks, and if so, whether it would affect the spatial encoding of rewards and subsequent choices during task performance.

Detailed Description

The design is primarily a randomized control-trial design (3 sessions), testing the effects of 10-Hz rTMS and single-pulse TMS on spatial processing during goal-directed navigation tasks. Subjects will be randomly assigned to an active or sham group. All participants will be asked to complete two TMS sessions within two weeks. For the active TMS group, participants will be scanned using a 3 Tesla MRI system and will receive a structural (T1) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) scan (Session A). For each subsequent TMS session, the TMS coil will be placed 1cm above the scalp over a right parietal region displaying maximum connectivity patterns with the parahippocampal cortex. Subjects will be randomly assigned to a 10-Hz rTMS protocol or single-pulse TMS protocol. At the start of the first TMS session (Session B), participants will be fitted with an EEG cap and engage in a virtual T-maze reward task. In this task, subjects will be asked to choose the left or right alley of the maze, and after their response, they will received a reward stimulus (apple or orange) which will indicate whether the participant will receive 5 or 0 cents on that trial. For the 10-Hz group, the task will be divided into 2 blocks (225 trials per block). At the start of Block 1, the robotic arm will position the TMS coil <1 cm over the right parietal target. Next, 50 rTMS pulses will be delivered at 110% of participants' rMT at 10-Hz continuously over the target immediately before every 10 trials of the T-maze. A total of 2250 pulses will be delivered and 450 T-maze trials completed. For the single-pulse group, the T-maze task will be divided into 2 blocks (225 trials per block). For the first block, a single TMS pulse will be delivered at 110% of participants' rMT over the TMS target immediately following trial-to-trial feedback and at the peak phase of the evoked theta oscillations (closed-loop). Following 10 trials of single-pulse, subjects will complete 5 trials with no TMS (total 150 TMS trials, 75 no-TMS trials). For the second block, a single TMS pulse will be delivered over the TMS target immediately following trial-to-trial feedback and at the trough phase of the evoked theta oscillation (peak and trough order will be counterbalanced across subjects). Following 10 trials of single-pulse, subjects will complete 5 trials with no TMS (total 150 TMS trials, 75 no-TMS trials). A total of 300 TMS trials and 150 no-TMS trials of the T-maze task will be performed. At the end of Session B, participants will be scheduled to return to the laboratory to complete Session C on a separate day. At the start of the second TMS session (Session C), participants will be fitted with an EEG cap and engage in the Linear Track Maze. During the encoding phase of this task, subjects will be presented with five distinct landmarks (pillars) along the track. Each time they reach a landmark, they stop for 500 ms and an apple (a reward, 5 cents) or an orange (no reward, 0 cents) appears. Only one landmark is associated with a reward. Following the encoding phase, the recall phase starts and subjects are shown both old and new landmarks. Subjects are instructed to indicate via button press which of these pillars was accompanied by a reward and earn the reward by correctly identifying the reward pillar. Recall performance will be assessed using d-prime, which represents how well subjects were able to recall the correct reward location. In total, subjects perform 200 trials across four blocks (50 trials each), resulting in a duration of roughly 30 minutes. For each block of the encoding phase, a single TMS pulses will be delivered at either at the peak, trough, ascending, descending phase of the evoked theta oscillation following the onset of the reward stimulus. (phase target order will be counterbalanced across blocks and subjects). The investigators will then test the effect of phase stimulation on recall performance as assed using d-prime. Identical protocols will be applied to the Sham groups with the exception that the TMS coil will be targeted at electrode position P4 and flipped 180 degrees, preventing pulses from hitting the scalp.

Conditions

Spatial Navigation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Active 10-Hz rTMS

For the first TMS session, participants will receive 10-Hz repetitive TMS (rTMS) delivered at 110% of participants' resting motor threshold over the predefined parietal target for a total of 2250 pulses. For the second TMS session, participants will receive single pulse TMS during the phase target of each task trial and delivered at 110% of participants' resting motor threshold over the predefined parietal target for a total of 200 pulses.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active 10-Hz TMS to the parietal cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The active 10-Hz TMS group will receive 10hz TMS stimulation in the first TMS session, and single pulse TMS in the second TMS session. Participants in the active stimulation group will receive 10-Hz TMS to right parietal cortex. The TMS target will be based on subject specific anatomical MRI images (diffusion imaging). TMS will be delivered using a robotic neuronavigation system (Smartmove, ANT). Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 110% of RMT and adjusted to the skull to cortical surface based on e-field calculations (simnibs). Stimulation will be delivered to the right parietal cortex using an active/placebo figure-8 coil, an magventure TMS device.

Active single-pulse rTMS

For the first TMS session, participants will receive a single TMS pulse during the phase target of each task trial and delivered at 110% of participants' resting motor threshold over the predefined parietal target for a total of 300 pulses. For the second TMS session, participants will receive single pulse TMS during the phase target of each task trial and delivered at 110% of participants' resting motor threshold over the predefined parietal target for a total of 200 pulses.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active single pulse TMS to the parietal cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The active single pulse TMS group will receive single pulse TMS stimulation in the first and second TMS session. Participants in the active stimulation group will receive single pulse TMS to right parietal cortex. The TMS target will be based on subject specific anatomical MRI images (diffusion imaging). TMS will be delivered using a robotic neuronavigation system (Smartmove, ANT). Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 110% of RMT and adjusted to the skull to cortical surface based on e-field calculations (simnibs). Stimulation will be delivered to the right parietal cortex using an active/placebo figure-8 coil, an magventure TMS device.

Sham 10-Hz rTMS

Identical parameters of the active 10-Hz rTMS group will be applied to the SHAM group with the exception that the TMS coil will be flipped 180º to mimic auditory stimulation.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham 10-Hz TMS to the right parietal cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The parameters in the active arms will be as above with the internal randomization of the device internally switching to sham in a blinded fashion.

Sham single-pulse rTMS

Identical parameters of the active single-pulse rTMS group will be applied to the SHAM group with the exception that the TMS coil will be flipped 180º to mimic auditory stimulation.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham single-pulse rTMS the rigt parietal cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The parameters in the active arms will be as above with the internal randomization of the device internally switching to sham in a blinded fashion.

Interventions

Active 10-Hz TMS to the parietal cortex

The active 10-Hz TMS group will receive 10hz TMS stimulation in the first TMS session, and single pulse TMS in the second TMS session. Participants in the active stimulation group will receive 10-Hz TMS to right parietal cortex. The TMS target will be based on subject specific anatomical MRI images (diffusion imaging). TMS will be delivered using a robotic neuronavigation system (Smartmove, ANT). Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 110% of RMT and adjusted to the skull to cortical surface based on e-field calculations (simnibs). Stimulation will be delivered to the right parietal cortex using an active/placebo figure-8 coil, an magventure TMS device.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Active single pulse TMS to the parietal cortex

The active single pulse TMS group will receive single pulse TMS stimulation in the first and second TMS session. Participants in the active stimulation group will receive single pulse TMS to right parietal cortex. The TMS target will be based on subject specific anatomical MRI images (diffusion imaging). TMS will be delivered using a robotic neuronavigation system (Smartmove, ANT). Stimulation intensity will be standardized at 110% of RMT and adjusted to the skull to cortical surface based on e-field calculations (simnibs). Stimulation will be delivered to the right parietal cortex using an active/placebo figure-8 coil, an magventure TMS device.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham 10-Hz TMS to the right parietal cortex

The parameters in the active arms will be as above with the internal randomization of the device internally switching to sham in a blinded fashion.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham single-pulse rTMS the rigt parietal cortex

The parameters in the active arms will be as above with the internal randomization of the device internally switching to sham in a blinded fashion.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Be between the ages of 18 and 55 years old.

2. Not received substance abuse treatment within the previous 30 days.

3. Be in stable mental and physical health.

4. If female, test non-pregnant.

5. No evidence of focal or diffuse brain lesion on MRI.

6. Be willing to provide informed consent.

7. 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.

uninterruptable central nervous system medication.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Travis Baker, PhD

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Travis E Baker

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Rutgers University

Locations

Rutgers University - Newark

Newark, New Jersey, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Travis E Baker, PhD

Role: CONTACT

travis.e.baker@rutgers.edu

973-353-5485

Malte Gueth

Role: CONTACT

mrg217@newark.rutgers.edu

973-353-3509

Facility Contacts

Travis E Baker, PhD

Role: primary

travis.e.baker@rutgers.edu

973-353-5485

Malte Gueth

Role: backup

mrg217@newark.rutgers.edu

973-353-3509

Other Identifiers

Pro2022000444_17-623R

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id