NCT06790576

Optimizing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Stimulant Use Disorder

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Minnesota · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The study will recruit 50 adults with stimulant use disorder currently in treatment and abstinent for at least 2 weeks. The study will also recruit up to 10 healthy controls (adults without StUD) for initial study configuration. The study will consist of five steps that are expected to be completed over two lab visits. Step 1: The 3T MRI scan will provide accurate prefrontal cortex anatomy for using neuronavigation for TMS. In addition, the study will use an analysis of resting fMRI connectivity to determine the location in the left DLPFC that has the maximum connectivity with the incentive-salience network. Step 2: The study will use the data collected at the MRI to select the individual TMS location. EEG will be used to collect TEPs in response to single pulse TMS at the left DLPFC. Participants will then be randomized to one of three conditions: A) TMS unsynchronized with EEG, B) TMS synchronized with EEG theta frequency trough, and C) TMS synchronized with EEG theta frequency peak. The stimulation will be applied with an intensity of up to 120% of the resting motor threshold (which is a safe and common practice; Rossi et al., 2021). The intensity can be decreased for individual participants. Step 3: Following randomization, the study will administer a pre-iTBS assessment. Step 4: The study will compare brain and behavioral responses before and after the iTBS session with TMS and EEG synchronization as assigned by their randomized group. Step 5: The study will administer a post-iTBS assessment.

Conditions

• Stimulant Use Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	closed-loop-peak	With single pulse TMS stimulation at F3 based on 10-20 EEG system, TMS evoked potentials (TEPs) will be collected under three TMS synchronization conditions: closed-loop-peak (each pulse synchronized to person's peak of theta waveform)
OTHER	Open-loop	With single pulse TMS stimulation at F3 based on 10-20 EEG system, TMS evoked potentials (TEPs) will be collected under three TMS synchronization conditions: open-loop (TMS pulse delivered without regard to EEG)
OTHER	closed-loop-trough	With single pulse TMS stimulation at F3 based on 10-20 EEG system, TMS evoked potentials (TEPs) will be collected under three TMS synchronization conditions: closed-loop-trough (each pulse synchronized to trough of theta waveform)

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-12-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2025-01-24
• Last updated: 2026-02-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study