Influence of Temporo-occipital Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation on Aversive Episodic Memory Performance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A pilot study, examining the effect of repeated transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (rTMS) on the formation of memories with negative valence. The investigators hypothesize that an effective rTMS protocol to reduce memory performance for adverse events can be found.

Official Title
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A Pilot Study on the Influence of Temporo-occipital Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation on Aversive Episodic Memory Performance

Conditions
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Memory, Episodic

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: rTMS (cTBS experiment)
* Device: rTMS (cTBS sham)
* Device: rTMS (cTBS active control)
* Device: rTMS (high frequency)
* Device: rTMS (low frequency)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Male or female Generally healthy Normotensive (BP 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg) BMI: 19 - 30 kg/m2 Age: 18 - 30 years Fluent German-speaking Exclusion Criteria: Metal in the brain, skull or elsewhere in the body (e.g., splinters, fragments, clips, etc.) Implanted neurostimulator (e.g., DBS, epidural/subdural, VNS) Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines Medication infusion device Nonremovable Piercings in the head area, pivot teeth (retainers are no exclusion criterion) Tattoos (head area) less than 3 months old or older than 20 years Condition after neurosurgery Hearing problems or tinnitus Not able to sit still due to tremor, tics, itching History of repeated syncope Head trauma diagnosed as concussion or associated with loss of consciousness diagnosis of epilepsy, or a convulsion or a seizure in the past of the participant or his/her close family TMS in the past showing problems Surgical procedures to spinal cord Spinal or ventricular derivations Alcohol or drug intake 48 hours before start of visits Regular intake of any medication or CNS-active medication 48h before visit rMT above the limits of rTMS device.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 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: Sequential Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: cTBS experiment<br>Active brain stimulation on the inferior occipital gyrus using the cTBS protocol. | Device: rTMS (cTBS experiment)<br>* rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics: Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band) Intensity: 80% of resting motor threshold (rMT) Location: consecutively on the left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total. Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line)<br>|
| Sham Comparator: cTBS sham<br>Sham brain stimulation on the inferior occipital gyrus using the cTBS protocol | Device: rTMS (cTBS sham)<br>* rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics: Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band) Intensity: 0% Location: consecutively on the left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total. Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line)<br>|
| Active Comparator: cTBS active control<br>Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the cTBS protocol | Device: rTMS (cTBS active control)<br>* rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics: Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band) Intensity: 80% of resting motor threshold (rMT) Location: Right superior frontal cortex Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total. Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line)<br>|
| Experimental: High frequency<br>Active brain stimulation on the inferior occipital gyrus using the 5Hz protocol | Device: rTMS (high frequency)<br>* rTMS using high frequency protocol with the following characteristics: Frequency: 5 Hz Intensity: 100% of rMT Location: bilateral temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) Duration: 2.5 seconds during the presentation of pictures (3 minutes in total) Timing: Only during the picture viewing part of memory task (On-line)<br>|
| Experimental: Low frequency<br>Active brain stimulation on the inferior occipital gyrus using the 1Hz protocol | Device: rTMS (low frequency)<br>* rTMS using Low frequency protocol with the following characteristics: Frequency: 1 Hz Intensity: 110% of rMT Location: temporo-occipital cortex of dominant brain hemisphere (MNI left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) Duration: 30 minutes, continuously Timing: Starting 10 minutes before and continuing during the picture viewing and valence rating of the pictures of the memory task (on-line).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| memory recall performance | The difference between valence specific (negative, positive, and neutral) memory performance as assessed by a standard picture recall episodic memory task. | On average 1 hour after intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Working memory performance | Working memory performance measured by n-back task | On average 1 hour after intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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memory, Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation, emotional valence