Using frontal brain stimulation to calm the amygdala
Mapping a Causal Prefrontal Pathway for Amygdala Modulation Utilizing Invasive and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Recording Methods in Humans
This project uses frontal brain stimulation to try to lower overactivity in the amygdala for people with anxiety or mood-related problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263739 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would help researchers map how a spot in the front of the brain (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC) influences the amygdala by receiving brain stimulation and having brain activity recorded. Some participants who already have implanted intracranial electrodes (epilepsy monitoring patients) will get direct stimulation and intracranial EEG to measure causal effects on the amygdala. Other participants will receive noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the same frontal targets while researchers record brain responses with noninvasive measures such as EEG and imaging. The team will use these combined invasive and noninvasive results to identify safe, TMS-accessible targets that could modulate emotional circuits linked to anxiety and mood symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with anxiety or mood disorders—especially treatment-resistant cases—and epilepsy patients already undergoing intracranial monitoring who meet the study's safety criteria.
Not a fit: People without anxiety or mood-related problems, or those whose symptoms are not related to DLPFC–amygdala circuitry, may not receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify a safer, noninvasive TMS target to reduce harmful amygdala activity and potentially improve anxiety or mood symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Prior TMS and invasive stimulation work suggests the DLPFC can influence emotional circuits, but combining intracranial stimulation/recording with TMS in the same human-focused program is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Jing — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Jing
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.