NCT07242105

Optimizing Brain Excitability in Depression

Optimized Methods for Measuring Brain Excitability in Depression

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 145 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this study is to improve depression treatment by establishing reliable prefrontal excitability markers through Targeting with Automated Real-time Guidance for Enhancing TEPs (TARGET).

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Active Single-Pulse TMS	Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation is delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using a MagVenture X100 stimulator and B65 A/P coil across predefined locations, coil angles, and stimulation intensities.
DEVICE	Sham Single-Pulse TMS	Sham single-pulse TMS is delivered using a flipped coil and concurrent scalp electrical stimulation to mimic auditory and somatosensory sensations without producing cortical stimulation.
DEVICE	TARGET-optimized TMS	Single-pulse TMS parameters (location, angle, and intensity) are adjusted in real time using the TARGET closed-loop algorithm based on concurrent EEG measurements to deliver optimized stimulation.
DEVICE	Non-optimized (Open-Loop) TMS	Single-pulse TMS is delivered using a predefined open-loop set of stimulation parameter combinations across multiple dlPFC locations, coil angles, and intensities without real-time adjustment.
OTHER	EEG Recording	Participants undergo concurrent 64-channel TMS-compatible scalp EEG recording during stimulation to measure TMS-evoked neural responses.
OTHER	Intracranial EEG (iEEG) Recording	Neurosurgical participants undergo intracranial EEG recording using clinically implanted electrodes during TMS to measure local and downstream neural activity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-23
• Primary completion: 2029-08-30
• Completion: 2029-11-30
• First posted: 2025-11-21
• Last updated: 2026-02-10

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study