Arousal-related Memory Following Theta Burst Stimulation.

Aim 1 (cTBS): Behavioral outcomes will include relative order discrimination and temporal distance estimation. Data will be analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with fixed effects of stimulation condition (cTBS vs. Sham-cTBS), session (Week 2 vs. Week 4) within the cTBS group, counterbalanced across active and sham sessions, and their interaction, and random intercepts and slopes for participants to account for repeated measures. Continuous physiological arousal (heart rate) and subjective arousal ratings during encoding will be included as covariates. Neural analyses will focus on baseline fMRI collected during high-arousal movie clips. Regions of interest (ROIs) include the intraparietal sulcus, amygdala subregions (basolateral and central-medial), anterior and posterior hippocampus, and perirhinal cortex. IPS-linked network connectivity at baseline will be modeled as a predictor of behavioral sensitivity to cTBS, rather than measuring post-TBS changes. Multiple comparisons will be controlled using false discovery rate (FDR) correction at q < .05.

Aim 2 (iTBS): Analyses will mirror Aim 1, substituting iTBS versus Sham-iTBS as the primary contrast. Behavioral indices of temporal memory and physiological arousal (heart rate, continuous ratings) during encoding will serve as primary outcomes. Baseline IPS connectivity measures will be used to examine individual susceptibility to iTBS modulation of behavior. ROI-level analyses will apply FDR correction (q < .05). Voxelwise exploratory analyses of baseline functional connectivity may be conducted, with AFNI 3dLME modeling and cluster correction via 3dClustSim (voxelwise p < 0.001, cluster α = 0.05).

Aim 3 - Individual Differences and Exploratory Contrasts: Individual difference analyses will incorporate baseline arousal indices, self-report measures (STAI, BAI, PCL-5), and participant-specific electric field (E-field) estimates from SimNIBS (individualized modeling software) as continuous moderators. Mixed-effects models will examine condition × moderator interactions to determine whether baseline physiology, self-report anxiety measures, or E-field strength predict differential behavioral sensitivity to cTBS or iTBS. Session order will be included as a covariate to account for potential practice or carryover effects. FDR correction (q < .05) will be applied across all behavioral and ROI-level analyses.

Inclusion criteria

• Able to provide informed consent
• Right-handed (to ensure consistency in motor threshold determination)

Exclusion criteria

• Non-English speaking
• Significant medical problems
• Current or past psychiatric disorder
• Active or history of suicidal ideation
• Alcohol or drug problems in the past year, or lifetime alcohol or drug dependence
• Medications affecting the central nervous system
• History of seizure, epilepsy, or other neurological problems
• Any increased risk for seizure
• Pregnancy
• Medical conditions that increase risk for fMRI or TMS
• Metal in the body that makes MRI unsafe
• Medical implants
• Claustrophobia
• Orthostatic hypotension