Exploring the Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Decision-Making
NCT ID: NCT07080489
Last Updated: 2025-07-23
Study Results
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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RECRUITING
NA
444 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-03-04
2027-10-31
Brief Summary
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The main questions are:
In healthy adults, does brain stimulation modulate how people respond to emotionally valenced content during a decision-making task? What happens in the brain during modulation? Do these effects differ between younger and older adults?
In adults with depression, does brain stimulation help shift attention towards positive content during the task? What happens in the brain? Are these effects moderated by age (younger vs. older adults)?
The investigators will compare participants who receive real stimulation to those who receive sham (placebo) stimulation.
Participants will:
Receive high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)
Perform a decision-making task involving emotionally valenced words
Complete the task while undergoing a brain scan using ultra-high field 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure brain activity
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Detailed Description
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The study builds on evidence that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a key role in evaluating emotionally-valenced material and decision-making. The investigators will examine whether modulation of this region through high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) affects responses to emotionally valenced information. Stimulation will be administered differently across groups based on theoretical models of hemispheric function in mood regulation.
To explore the effect of stimulation at neurotransmitter level, the investigators will use ultra-high field 7 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) / Glutamate concentrations in regions of interest at baseline and after stimulation. This allows to examine whether changes in inhibitory/excitatory neurotransmitters are linked to altered emotional processing and decision making.
By combining brain stimulation, ultra-high field neuroimaging, and spectroscopy, this study examines how changes in brain network activity and neurotransmitter levels relate to decision-making in health and disease. The inclusion of both younger and older adults allows the investigators to explore age-related differences in these processes.
This project aims to provide mechanistic insights into decision-making in health and disease and to support the development of targeted neuromodulation therapies that could modulate emotional processing.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
BASIC_SCIENCE
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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Active Stimulation (Healthy)
Healthy adults aged 20 to 40 or 60 to 75 years.
Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4
Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4).
Sham Stimulation (Healthy)
Healthy adults aged 20 to 40 or 60 to 75 years.
Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4
Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.
Active Stimulation (Patient)
Patients with mild to moderate depression aged 20 to 40 or 60 to 75 years.
Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4
Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and cathodal stimulation targeting the right DLPFC (F4).
Sham Stimulation (Patient)
Patients with mild to moderate depression aged 20 to 40 or 60 to 75 years.
Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4
Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and right DLPFC (F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.
Interventions
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Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4
Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4).
Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4
Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.
Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4
Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and cathodal stimulation targeting the right DLPFC (F4).
Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4
Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and right DLPFC (F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Age between 20-40 or 60-75 years
* Fluent in German
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* No color blindness
* Right-handed
* Non-smoker
* Written Informed Consent
* Diagnosed with mild to moderate depression
* Age between 20-40 or 60-75 years
* Fluent in German
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* No color blindness
Exclusion Criteria
* History of psychiatric disorders
* Use of psychotropic medication
* Presence of magnetizable implants
* Alcohol or drug dependence
* Intake of benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medication
* psychiatric disorders other than depression (e.g., psychosis, mania, personality disorders) or depression with organic cause
* Presence of magnetizable implants
* Alcohol or drug dependence
20 Years
75 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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ki:elements
UNKNOWN
University of Bern
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Jessica Peter, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Bern
Locations
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University of Bern, Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Bern, , Switzerland
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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2024-01010
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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