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NCT Number: NCT06274112

Using TMS to Understand Neural Processes of Social Motivation

The purpose of this study is to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to better understand the neural circuits associated with social motivation.

Participant includes four study visits each that range from 1.5 - 3.0 hours in duration over approximately a one month period. The first study visit involves answering survey questions, a clinical interview, and computer tasks. The second study visit involves a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computer tasks, and a brief TMS protocol. The second and third study visits involve a full session of TMS followed by an MRI scan and computer tasks.

Adults in the Auburn/Opelika area and surrounding areas who avoid social situations, experience symptoms of depression or social anxiety, and are between 25 years old and 50 years old are eligible to participate.

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Key information

Conditions

Social Avoidant Behavior Anxiety Disorders Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Major Depressive Disorder Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Phobia, Social Phobic Disorders Social Anxiety Disorder

Age range

25 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama, 36849, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Travis Evans, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

3348444550

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • A diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder OR a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder (assessed/confirmed at screening visit).
  • Scoring above clinical threshold on a measure of social avoidant behavior (assessed/confirmed at phone screen).

Exclusion criteria

  • Unstable psychotropic medication regimen (i.e., changes in psychotropic medication or dosage in past 3 months).
  • Current or lifetime diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.
  • A diagnosis of substance use disorder within past 12 months.
  • A diagnosis of psychotic-spectrum disorder such as Schizophrenia.
  • Pregnancy or probable pregnancy.
  • Medical illness or medical treatment that would preclude or inhibit study participation.
  • Neurological disorder associated with brain damage.
  • History of seizures or head trauma with loss of consciousness > 5 minutes.
  • Family history of epilepsy or personal epilepsy/seizures
  • Ferromagnetic implants or ferrmagnetic objects within body (e.g., pacemaker).

Treatment and study plan

TMS

Device

TMS will be administered using a Cool B-65 coil to a personalized right dlPFC region.

Primary outcomes

  1. Social motivation

    Time frame: Immediately post-intervention

    Motivational responses to facial expressions as measured by the Social Approach Avoidance Paradigm (SAAP; Evans, Esterman, & Britton, 2022). In the SAAP, participants self-report how much they would like to approach or avoid emotional facial expressions.

  2. Neural circuit function

    Time frame: Immediately post-intervention

    Brain connectivity during motivational responses to facial expression during the Social Approach-Avoidance Paradigm (SAAP; Evans, Esterman, & Britton, 2022) and during resting state conditions. In the SAAP, participants self-report how much they would like to approach or avoid emotional facial expressions. During resting state conditions, participants simply lie still with their eyes open without completing any type of task.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Auburn University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Personalized Neuromodulation Targeting Dysregulated Motivational Responses Underlying Social Avoidance Behavior

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Feb 23, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 3, 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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