How iTBS and a brain drug could boost brain wiring to help depression

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project looks at how a specific brain stimulation technique called intermittent theta burst stimulation may improve the brain’s ability to change and adapt, which is often reduced in people with depression. It also tests whether a medication that acts on NMDA receptors, d-cycloserine, can boost the benefits of iTBS. Researchers plan to measure changes in brain plasticity and relate them to clinical symptoms in participants who receive the treatment in a clinical setting. The study combines clinical depression treatment with neuroscience methods to better understand how these interventions work together. The goal is to guide future optimization of plasticity-inducing therapies for depression and possibly other disorders.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Mclean Hospital
  Belmont, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Brown, Joshua C — Mclean Hospital
• Study coordinator: Brown, Joshua C

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About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.