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Neural Mechanisms of Interpersonal Expectations on Negative Affect

This study is exploring how non-invasive brain stimulation, called transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS), might help reduce negative feelings. Researchers also want to understand how your expectations, influenced by care providers, affect the treatment's success. You would receive either active tTIS or a sham (inactive) version, along with positive or negative messages about the treatment. The study aims to see if active tTIS is more effective than sham tTIS, and if positive expectations improve the results. This trial is for adults aged 18 to 55 who do not have a history of certain psychiatric conditions or seizure disorders. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 196 participants.

Study design
This interventional study uses a crossover design, meaning participants will experience different combinations of active or sham tTIS and positive or negative messaging. It plans to enroll 196 participants.
What's involved
You would complete several sessions, each involving brain stimulation and assessments of your negative feelings. All sessions are expected to be completed within one month.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your cognitive effort, subjective fear, and pain ratings will be measured throughout the testing sessions, which are completed within one month.

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

NCT06980090

Neural Mechanisms of Interpersonal Expectations on Negative Affect

Recruiting
NAAges 18–55InterventionalBasic science
Trustees of Dartmouth College
~196 participants
Updated 2026-06-11 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Session A: Positive Placebo + Active tTISSession B: Positive Placebo + Sham tTISSession C: Negative Placebo + Active tTISSession D: Negative Placebo + Sham tTISSession E: On-Placebo + Sham tTISSession F: Off-Placebo + Sham tTIS

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Cognitive effort ratings
Measured over 3-10 sec post-stimulus throughout testing sessions, with all sessions complete within 1 month
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Negative Affectivity
Non-invasive Brain Stimulation
Placebo Effect
Expectations

Explore related trials

Abnormal negative emotional statePain

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New Hampshire1

Who to contact

Zhaoxing Wei, Ph.D.
[email protected]
6033220577
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Exclusion

No self-reported current or history of depression, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric diagnosis
No self-reported current seizure disorder (i.e., seizure within past 10 years), or history of stroke or other major neurological diagnosis that can cause cognitive impairment
No self-reported current chronic pain, or acute pain within three months of the study period
No current migraine disorder (i.e., 15 headache days or more in 1 month)
No use of central nervous system-effective medication or other medication for neurological/psychiatric treatment
No self-reported substance abuse within the last six months
No contraindication to MRI or tTIS (e.g., pregnancy, claustrophobia, pacemakers, ear/cochlear implants, shrapnel injuries, clips, or other ferromagnetic/electrical objects/devices, diagnosed brain abnormality such as tumor, or skin lesions on the scalp.)
No contraindications for induced pain (e.g., no heart disease, high blood pressure, heart surgery, heart problems of any kind, severe asthma, respiratory problems of any kind, fibromyalgia, Raynaud's Syndrome or Disease, chronic pain, diabetes)
Participants must be capable of performing experimental tasks (e.g., are able to read), are fluent or native speakers of English
Participants must be able to tolerate the maximum level of thermal pain stimuli (for thermal stimuli)

What this trial measures

  • Cognitive effort ratings3-10 sec post-stimulus throughout testing sessions, with all sessions complete within 1 month

    Participants report cognitive effort after each trial on a Generalized Linear Magnitude scale (GLMS) with anchors of "No effort" and "Most effort imaginable". Raw units are on a 0-180 scale.

  • Subjective fear ratings3-10 sec post-stimulus throughout testing sessions, with all sessions complete within 1 month

    Participants report subjective fear experience after each trial on a well-validated Generalized Linear Magnitude scale (GLMS) with anchors of "No fear" and "Most intense fear imaginable". Raw units are on a 0-180 scale.

  • Pain ratings3-10 sec post-stimulus throughout testing sessions, with all sessions complete within 1 month

    Participants report subjective pain experience after each trial on a well-validated Generalized Linear Magnitude scale (GLMS) with anchors of "No pain" and "Most intense pain imaginable". Raw units are on a 0-180 scale.