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Study for Disrupting Fear-based Memory Consolidation in PTSD

This study is exploring a new way to help people who have experienced trauma and may be at risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It uses a technique called continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS), which is a type of non-invasive brain stimulation, to try and reduce fear memories. You might receive either cTBS or a sham (inactive) version. Researchers will measure changes in your brain's connections and activity about a month after the intervention to see if it helps. The study is looking for 66 participants between 18 and 65 years old who have a PTSD diagnosis and no history of certain medical conditions. The goal is to see if this method can prevent PTSD by changing how the brain processes emotional memories after a traumatic event. The current status of the study is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 66 planned participants. It uses a sham intervention for double-blinding, meaning neither you nor the researchers will know if you're receiving the active cTBS or the sham.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Researchers will measure changes in your brain's connections and activity at Study Day 30 and Day 31 after the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05560113

Disrupting Fear-based Memory Consolidation

Recruiting
NAAges 18–65InterventionalTreatment
Emory University
~66 participants
Updated 2025-10-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS)Sham continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Changes in Neural Connections: Functional network connectivity
Measured over Study Day 30 and Day 31
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Explore related trials

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
Georgia2

Study leadership

  • Michael Borich, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Emory University

Who to contact

Michael Borich, PhD
[email protected]
404-712-5512
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Ability to provide informed consent
Willingness to participate in study
No history of musculoskeletal impairment or neurological disease
Clinical diagnosis of PTSD for individuals in the PTSD group.

Exclusion

Any participant outside the age range
Participants that show signs of dementia (score \< 20 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
Participants that have a history of major head trauma, a neurodegenerative disorder, or recent (\<6 months) substance abuse;
Participants that had a recent history of Central Nervous System (CNS) active drugs that may influence cortical excitability or learning; or
Participants that report contraindications to TMS or MRI - if participating in the TMS/MRI experiments
Current psychoactive medication usage
Current symptoms of psychosis or bipolar disorder (as indicated by study staff through a clinical interview as part of that study).
The study will exclude adults unable to consent, individuals who are not yet adults, pregnant women and prisoners on scientific grounds and to minimize risk.

What this trial measures

  • Changes in Neural Connections: Functional network connectivityStudy Day 30 and Day 31

    Preprocessing of neuroimaging data will be conducted using fMRI prep. Pre-processed neuroimaging data will undergo first and second level modeling in Statistical Parametric Mapping. First level analysis include an event-related model with the onset and duration of each event included for each condition, and motion included as a regressor. A high-pass filter of 128s will be applied to account for low-frequency drifts. Amygdala regions of interest (ROIs) will be defined anatomically using California Institute of Technology (CIT168) Subcortical Atlas. Primary sensory cortex ROI \& seed coordinates will be defined utilizing voxels within a V1 region mask showing maximal functional connectivity with the amygdala during conditioning.

  • Changes in Neural Connections: Regional activationStudy Day 30 and 31

    Preprocessing of neuroimaging data will be conducted using fMRI prep. Pre-processed neuroimaging data will undergo first and second level modeling in Statistical Parametric Mapping. First level analysis include an event-related model with the onset and duration of each event included for each condition, and motion included as a regressor. A high-pass filter of 128s will be applied to account for low-frequency drifts. Whole-brain analysis of changes in local regions of activity will be measured by change in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal from resting activity. Multiple comparisons using permutation-based methods to control the false positive rate to p\<.05.