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N/A N=19 Randomized Double-blind Basic Science

Activating and Identifying Neural Responses to Social Rejection: a Combined tDCS and fMRI Study

Healthy

Enrolled (actual)
19
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jul 2020
Primary outcome: Primary: Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) Signal Changes (in Arbitrary Units) — .57; .66; .25; .29 Arbitrary units

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Interventions
tDCS (Device); Sham tDCS (Device)
Age
Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
Stony Brook University
Primary completion
Oct 2018

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) Signal Changes (in Arbitrary Units)
.57; .66; .25; .29; .67; .33
PRIMARY
Change in Positive and Negative Affect Scale (During fMRI)
14.06; 12.81; 6.00; -3.33; -10.94; -5.31
PRIMARY
Change in the Single-item Self-Esteem Scale (During fMRI)
-5.33; -2.67; 0.71; 8.57
PRIMARY
Change in Desire for Social Interaction Scale (During fMRI)
-16.88; -13.75; -2.00; 1.33

Summary

This research study identifies neural pathways regulating negative moods during rejection by combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and fMRI in a sample of healthy controls.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Healthy males or females between 18 and 25 years old
  • No diagnosis on Axis I by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV. No current, or within the past 5 years.
  • Not currently in a romantic relationship
  • Ability to understand and follow instructions and oriented to name, time, and place.
  • No additional neurologic or psychiatric disorders
  • No current use of psychotropic drugs or during past 3 months (except marijuana and alcohol)
  • No current use of marijuana or during past 3 weeks
  • Not currently abusing alcohol
  • No history of alcohol or drug dependence within past 5 years
  • A negative urine pregnancy and toxicology screen. Verbal affirmation will be obtained (i.e., "not pregnant" and "not currently using psychotropic drugs or during the past 3 months") during the Screening Visit (Day 1). Urine screen will be obtained on Days 2 and 3. If subject reports that there is a "possibility that she is pregnant" on Day 1 (Screening Visit) a urine pregnancy screen will be performed on that day.
  • (Women): If stopped or started oral contraceptives recently, at least 60 days on/off oral contraceptives.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Left-handed or ambidextrous
  • Metallic dental implants
  • Metallic objects in the brain/skull
  • Medical device implants
  • Implanted electronic devices
  • History of seizures
  • History of strokes
  • Unexplained loss of consciousness
  • Frequent or severe headaches or neck pain
  • Clinically significant, uncontrolled liver, kidney, cardiac, or pulmonary disease
  • Terminal medical diagnosis consistent with survival < 1 year
  • Pregnancy; childbirth or miscarriage within 6 months, breastfeeding within 6 months of recruitment
  • Serious mental impairment. Mini mental state exam of < 23/30
  • Chronic skin disease
  • Previous experience with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
  • Regular tobacco use or tobacco use within past month
  • If using hormonal birth control, taking progestin-only pills (e.g., Cerazette, Ovrette), or Intrauterine devices (Mirena, Skyla), since progestin-only birth controls are more likely to cause mood swings.

Addition Exclusion Criteria for participating in fMRI:

  • Metal anywhere in the body
  • Weight over 250 pounds, or girth size incompatible for scanner bore.
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02739789). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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