Brain Stimulation for Spatial Navigation
This study is looking at how non-invasive brain stimulation, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), affects how people navigate and remember spaces. Researchers want to see if TMS can change a specific brain signal (right posterior theta brain oscillation) that is linked to how your brain understands spatial information. They will also check if these changes affect how well you perform virtual navigation tasks and make choices for rewards. You might be eligible if you are between 18 and 55 years old, in stable mental and physical health, and have not had substance abuse treatment in the last 30 days. The study aims to enroll 60 participants.
- Study design
- This is a randomized controlled trial involving 60 participants. You would be randomly assigned to receive either active TMS or a sham (inactive) TMS.
- What's involved
- You would complete two TMS sessions within two weeks. Each session involves wearing an EEG cap and performing virtual navigation tasks.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your brain activity and spatial recall performance will be measured on the day of testing (Day 0).
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Modulating Goal-directed Navigation Using Noninvasive Brain Stimulation
At a glance
Conditions
NCT05801861
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Rutgers University - Newark
Newark, New Jerseystudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Travis E Baker · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Rutgers University
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Event-related Brain Oscillation: Right Posterior ThetaDay 0 (day of testing)
Right posterior theta (RPT: 4-8 hz) is a scalp recorded brain oscillation sensitive to spatial processing of reward stimulus presented during navigation tasks. RPT will be measured during the presentation of the reward stimulus (Reward, No-reward) during virtual navigation. A time-frequency analysis will be used to measure RPT power for each electrode by averaging the single-trial EEG according to feedback type (reward and no-reward) during the navigation tasks. The size of the RPT will be determined by identifying the maximum amplitude of the RPT response and evaluated at posterior electrodes. The RPT will be measured for each proposed right posterior target across active and sham groups, and used to measure the efficacy of the TMS target to modulate brain activity associated with spatial processing.
- Spatial Recall performanceDay 0 (day of testing)
Spatial recall performance learning will be measured using the Linear Track maze. During an initial encoding phase participants are exposed to five pairs of distinct pillars (landmarks), and only one of the pillar location will be paired with a reward cue. Then during the recall phase, participants are presented with old and new landmarks, and must recall which landmark contained the reward. A correct response would result in a 5-cent reward. Recall performance will be assessed using d-prime, which is calculated as the normalized distance between the probability distributions of the hit rate and the false alarm rate. This parameter represents how well subjects were able to maximize correct hits while minimizing false alarms. High recall performance is measured as a subject's ability to correctly identify rewarded pillars and reject non-rewarded pillars, as well as pillars that were not present during the last trial.