Improved tests for brain responsiveness in depression
Optimized methods for measuring brain excitability in depression
['FUNDING_R01'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11326666
Researchers will refine brain-stimulation and recording methods to make prefrontal brain responses clearer for people with depression.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11326666 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you take part, you'll receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) while researchers record very fast electrical responses with EEG over the front of your brain (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). They will use a new system called TARGET to change TMS settings in real time to strengthen a short-latency signal called the early local TMS-evoked potential (EL-TEP). The study will compare these measurements in people with depression and in healthy volunteers and will follow how signals change across treatment sessions. The aim is to develop a reliable marker of prefrontal excitability that might help personalize rTMS to improve depression treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with major depressive disorder who are eligible for or receiving rTMS treatment.
Not a fit: People without depression or those not eligible for TMS (for example, with metal implants in the head or certain uncontrolled seizures) are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let clinicians tailor rTMS treatments to a patient's brain response, improving chances of symptom relief.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies linked EL-TEP changes to outcomes but have been limited by low reliability, so this work builds on promising findings while focusing on improving measurement consistency.
Where this research is happening
STANFORD, UNITED STATES
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY — STANFORD, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KELLER, COREY J — STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: KELLER, COREY J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Brain Diseases, Brain Disorders