Validation of a Novel Cerebellar-striatal Satiety Circuit in Humans

NCT ID: NCT06105164

Last Updated: 2025-12-05

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-12-05

Study Completion Date

2029-08-31

Brief Summary

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This study uses a noninvasive technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study satiety in healthy individuals.

TMS is a noninvasive way of stimulating the brain, using a magnetic field to change activity in the brain. The magnetic field is produced by a coil that is held next to the scalp. In this study, the investigators will be stimulating the brain to learn more about the role of the cerebellum in satiety.

Detailed Description

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The purpose of this study is to conduct a circuit manipulation experiment to test the hypothesis that targeting the cerebellum can alter activity in response to food cues to advance the understanding of the involvement of the cerebellar-striatal circuit in feeding behavior.

Participants will undergo an initial screening session to complete informed consent and undergo baseline assessments including physical activity and food craving. Participants will additionally undergo an MRI scan that includes structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI). These rsfMRI imagines will be used to isolate individual resting state networks for targeting of rTMS modulation.

Participants will then complete two separate testing sessions involving MRI imaging and food intake assessments before and after rTMS. One visit will involve consumption of a filling meal; the other visit will be completed following an overnight fast.

Conditions

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Appetitive Behavior Obesity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active cerebellar rTMS

Cerebellar targeted iTBS

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

rTMS is a technique of TMS that allows for selective external manipulation of neural activity in a non-invasive manner. During rTMS a rapidly changing current is passed through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. This generates a temporary magnetic field, which in turn induces electrical current in neurons and allows for modulation of neural circuitry.

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) consisting of 2 s trains of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz, every 10s for a total of 600 pulses (82), will be applied to the target. Cerebellar stimulation will be applied to the targets at 100% of aMT or 35% maximal stimulator output, whichever is higher.

Sham cerebellar rTMS

Cerebellar targeted sham iTBS

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

rTMS is a technique of TMS that allows for selective external manipulation of neural activity in a non-invasive manner. During rTMS a rapidly changing current is passed through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. This generates a temporary magnetic field, which in turn induces electrical current in neurons and allows for modulation of neural circuitry.

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) consisting of 2 s trains of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz, every 10s for a total of 600 pulses (82), will be applied to the target. Cerebellar stimulation will be applied to the targets at 100% of aMT or 35% maximal stimulator output, whichever is higher.

Sham is achieved by using a coil with a magnetic shield preventing magnetic field from reaching the head.

Interventions

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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

rTMS is a technique of TMS that allows for selective external manipulation of neural activity in a non-invasive manner. During rTMS a rapidly changing current is passed through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. This generates a temporary magnetic field, which in turn induces electrical current in neurons and allows for modulation of neural circuitry.

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) consisting of 2 s trains of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz, every 10s for a total of 600 pulses (82), will be applied to the target. Cerebellar stimulation will be applied to the targets at 100% of aMT or 35% maximal stimulator output, whichever is higher.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

rTMS is a technique of TMS that allows for selective external manipulation of neural activity in a non-invasive manner. During rTMS a rapidly changing current is passed through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. This generates a temporary magnetic field, which in turn induces electrical current in neurons and allows for modulation of neural circuitry.

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) consisting of 2 s trains of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz, every 10s for a total of 600 pulses (82), will be applied to the target. Cerebellar stimulation will be applied to the targets at 100% of aMT or 35% maximal stimulator output, whichever is higher.

Sham is achieved by using a coil with a magnetic shield preventing magnetic field from reaching the head.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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iTBS iTBS

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy individuals aged 18 to 65
* BMI of 20-35.0 kg/m2
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* Good general health
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria

* Current and/or past medical conditions
* Current and/or past eating disorder
* On a restricted diet and/or taking weight loss medication(s)
* History of bariatric surgery
* Weight fluctuation \>3% in past 3 months
* Recent history of illicit recreational drug abuse
* Current nicotine use
* Intellectual disability
* Conditions that might result in increased risks of side effects or complications from TMS or MRI
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Mclean Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Brigham and Women's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Laura M Holsen

Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Laura Holsen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Locations

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McLean Hospital

Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Laura Holsen, PhD

Role: CONTACT

617-525-8772

Mark Halko, PhD

Role: CONTACT

617-855-2415

Facility Contacts

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Mark Halko, PhD

Role: primary

617-855-2415

Laura Holsen, PhD

Role: primary

617-525-8772

Other Identifiers

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2023P002811

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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