Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation of Frontal Cortex

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to see if a new brain stimulation technique, static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS), which involves holding a static neodymium magnet over the scalp, can influence normal rhythms of brain activity.

Detailed Description
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The investigator's primary objective is to determine the feasibility of modifying frontal brain activity using static magnetic fields. The investigator's will be examining the effects of static magnetic field of the spectral power of EEG data with healthy human participants. This is a within-subjects design, where each participant will receive sham and active stimulation on the left and right frontal cortex. EEG data will be collected during each stimulation.

Official Title
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Modulation of Frontal Cortical Activity With Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Active tSMS
* Other: Sham tSMS


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Right-handed, healthy, 18+ years old Capacity to understand all relevant risks and potential benefits of the study (informed consent) Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study - Speak and understand English Exclusion Criteria: Medical history of Psychological/Emotional Disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc.) (For females) Pregnancy or breast feeding Diagnosis of eating disorder (current or within the past 6 months) Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (lifetime) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (currently under treatment) Neurological disorders and conditions, including, but not limited to: History of epilepsy Seizures (except childhood febrile seizures and Electroconvulsive therapy-induced seizures) Dementia History of stroke Parkinson's disease Multiple sclerosis Cerebral aneurysm Brain tumors Medical or neurological illness or treatment for a medical disorder that could interfere with study participation (e.g., unstable cardiac disease, HIV/AIDS, malignancy, liver or renal impairment) Prior brain surgery Any brain devices/implants, including cochlear implants and aneurysm clips Any metal in/on the body, e.g., dental braces, glasses, piercings Traumatic brain injury Thick hair that would create distance between the magnet and the scalp Taking hormonal birth control or hormonal supplements (e.g., testosterone injections) - Anything that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the participant at increased risk or preclude the participant's full compliance with or completion of the study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: All participants will receive three stimulations: left frontal, right frontal, and sham tSMS.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Left Frontal<br>An active magnet (active tSMS) will be placed over the left frontal cortex, while a sham magnet (sham tSMS, a nonmagnetic metal cylinder made of brass) will be placed over the right frontal cortex. | Other: Active tSMS<br>* A cylindrical neodymium magnet is placed above the scalp.<br>|
| Experimental: Right Frontal<br>An active magnet (active tSMS) will be placed over the right frontal cortex, while a sham magnet (sham tSMS, a nonmagnetic metal cylinder made of brass) will be placed over the left frontal cortex. | Other: Active tSMS<br>* A cylindrical neodymium magnet is placed above the scalp.<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Sham Frontal<br>Sham magnets (sham tSMS, a nonmagnetic metal cylinder made of brass) will be placed over the left and right frontal cortex. | Other: Sham tSMS<br>* A cylindrical piece of nonferrous metal (brass). This is not attracted to magnets, and is identical in weight and appearance to active magnets.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) Spectral Power | Changes in the spectral power of the EEG before (2 min eyes-closed, 2 min eyes-open), during (eyes-open), and after stimulation (eyes-open) | 4 minutes before stimulation, 10 minutes during stimulation, and 2 minutes after stimulation | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heart Rate Variability | Change in the ratio between the power in low frequency band and the power in high frequency band. As this outcome variable is a ratio between two items that are measured in microvolt^2, the ratio does not have a unit of measure. | 4 minutes before stimulation, 10 minutes during stimulation, and 2 minutes after stimulation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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tSMS, Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation, healthy control