NCT04062318

Beta Events and Sensory Perception

The Causal Role of Neocortical Beta Events in Human Sensory Perception

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 39 (actual)
• Sponsor: Brown University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Low-frequency brain rhythms in the alpha (8-14Hz) and beta (15-29Hz) bands are strong predictors of perception and functional performance in a range of tasks, and are disrupted in several disease states. The purpose of this study is to investigate a direct causal relationship between low-frequency brain rhythms and sensory perception, and to optimize commonly used TMS paradigms to impact sensory processing and perception in a similar manner as endogenous rhythms. To do so, this study combines human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation; TMS), and biophysically principled computational neural modeling.

Detailed description

Prior studies have shown that high power low-frequency brain rhythms in the alpha (8-14) and beta (15-29 Hz) bands in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) are associated with a decreased probability of perceiving tactile stimuli at perceptual threshold, and can be modulated with attention. Furthermore, high power beta activity in SI emerges as brief "events" (\<150ms) in un-averaged data, the rate and timing of which underlie the attentional and perceptual effects associated with high beta power. In this study, human electroencephalography (EEG) and a non-painful tactile detection task are used to assess if TMS that is hypothesized to mimic endogenous beta-frequency events impact touch perception in a similar manner. The TMS-EEG components of this study will use a within-subjects crossover design. In initial study sessions, all participants will have an MRI. In subsequent study sessions, participants will complete a tactile detection task while EEG data is recorded concurrent with online active, active control or sham control TMS. Analyses will focus on comparing detection probabilities of tactile stimuli presented at perceptual threshold and tactile evoked response potential waveforms between trials with and without concurrent TMS.

Conditions

• Beta Rhythm
• Tactile Perception

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Online Active SI-Hand TMS	Single pulses of TMS will be delivered using an active coil. One pulse will be delivered per trial (at least 5 seconds apart) "online" (during the tactile detection task), at 80% active motor threshold. TMS will target the hand area of primary somatosensory cortex (SI-Hand).
DEVICE	Online Sham SI-Hand TMS	Single pulses of TMS will be delivered using a sham coil. One pulse will be delivered per trial (at least 5 seconds apart) "online" (during the tactile detection task), at 80% active motor threshold. TMS will target the hand area of primary somatosensory cortex (SI-Hand). This control condition is intended to mimic the peripheral (e.g. cranial/facial muscle and/or nerve activation, auditory evoked response), but not biological effects of TMS specifically related to somatosensory perception.
DEVICE	Online Active Control TMS	Single pulses of TMS will be delivered using an active coil. One pulse will be delivered per trial (at least 5 seconds apart) "online" (during the tactile detection task), at 80% active motor threshold. TMS will target a control brain region, in a more superior and lateral location within SI. This control condition is intended to mimic the peripheral (e.g. cranial/facial muscle and/or nerve activation, auditory evoked response), but not biological effects of TMS specifically related to somatosensory perception.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-07-25
• Primary completion: 2024-11-02
• Completion: 2024-11-02
• First posted: 2019-08-20
• Last updated: 2026-02-23
• Results posted: 2026-02-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study