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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05853939

Measuring rTMS-induced Neuroplasticity With EEG Steady-state Visual-evoked Potentials

The goals of this study are to 1) use EEG steady-state visual evoked potentials as a noninvasive measure of the neuroplasticity induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), 2) use visual contrast detection paradigms as a behavioral measure of rTMS effects, and 3) to investigate how visual spatial attention augments or suppresses the neuroplastic impact of rTMS. Participants will observe visual stimuli on a screen while allocating their attention to different parts of the visual field and making responses when they observe changes in the visual stimuli. rTMS is performed to visual cortex using MRI-retinotopy neuronavigation. Then the visual task paradigm is performed again.

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Key information

Conditions

Visual Cortical Plasticity Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Visual Attention

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Stanford University

Stanford, California, 94306, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Men and women, ages 18 to 65
  • Must comprehend English well to ensure adequate comprehension of the EEG and TMS instructions, and of clinical scales
  • Left- or Right-handed
  • No current or history of neurological disorders
  • No seizure disorder or risk of seizures

Exclusion criteria

  • Those with a contraindication for MRIs (e.g. implanted metal)
  • Any unstable medical condition
  • History of head trauma with loss of consciousness
  • History of seizures
  • Neurological or uncontrolled medical disease
  • Active substance abuse
  • Diagnosis of psychotic or bipolar disorder
  • Currently taking medications that substantially reduce seizure threshold (e.g., bupropion, olanzapine, chlorpromazine, lithium)
  • Currently pregnant or breastfeeding

Treatment and study plan

repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Device

Repetitive TMS targeted by neuronavigation to left lower visual field of primary visual cortex. Randomized to 10 Hz or 1 Hz on different treatment days. Stimulation at 110% of phosphene threshold, or 110% resting motor threshold if phosphenes not detectable. 1 Hz: 1000 pulses total over 1000 seconds. 10 Hz: 1000 pulses over 10 10 second pulse trains, with 50 second intertrain intervals

Primary outcomes

  1. post-rTMS change in ssVEP Response Amplitude

    Time frame: 60 minutes

    Change in ssVEP contrast-response amplitude after rTMS

  2. post-rTMS change in visual contrast perceptual sensitivity

    Time frame: 60 minutes

    change in visual psychometric threshold across contrasts after rTMS

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Collaborators

  • National Eye Institute (NEI)

Registry information

Official study title

Inducing and Measuring Visual-evoked Potential Plasticity in Humans With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 11, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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