Personalized brain stimulation tuned to your brain's natural rhythm for depression
Resonant Frequency rTMS: A Novel Approach to Target Circuit Modulation in MDD
This project uses TMS pulses tuned to each person's brain 'resonant frequency' to help adults with major depressive disorder feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11230241 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a combined TMS and EEG session to find the frequency at which your mood-related brain circuit most strongly resonates. Researchers will rank stimulation frequencies (5–18 Hz) and pick the top resonant frequency to guide a personalized rTMS treatment. The approach is designed to increase connectivity in the target circuit and monitor early changes in symptoms and brain signals. Treatment sessions and follow-up measures will occur at the research center to track safety and benefit.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder who are candidates for rTMS treatment would be the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without major depression, those with contraindications to TMS or EEG (for example certain implanted medical devices or uncontrolled seizure disorders), or those unable to attend site visits may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, tailoring rTMS to each person's resonant frequency could produce faster and stronger improvement in depressive symptoms than standard one-size-fits-all rTMS.
How similar studies have performed: rTMS is an established treatment for depression and early pilot data for resonant-frequency tuning show promising rapid changes in connectivity and symptoms, but larger validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leuchter, Andrew F — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Leuchter, Andrew F
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.