Sham accelerated TMS effects on thinking and behavior
Official title: Studies of Cognition and Behavior Using Sham Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Run by University of California, Davis · NCT07397858 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a sham (placebo) accelerated TMS schedule in 15–25-year-olds to see if treatment expectations change mood, motivation, and responses to everyday rewards.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 15 Years to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 25 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, Davis Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sacramento, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 11, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 2027 |
| Study ends | January 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07397858 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are English-speaking healthy individuals aged 15–25 who can provide informed consent (or assent with parental consent if under 18) and are eligible for MRI.
✕Probably not a fit
People with active psychiatric crises, major neurological disorders, inability to consent, MRI contraindications, or those seeking active TMS treatment are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Healthy participants aged 15–25 complete baseline clinical assessments and an MRI, then undergo five days of sham (placebo) accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation with no active brain stimulation delivered. The study tracks how expectations and treatment beliefs change during and after the sham course and whether those expectations influence mood, reward processing, or craving. It compares a more intensive accelerated schedule with a slower once-daily schedule to determine if session timing alters expectancy effects. Participants return for a post-treatment MRI and follow-up assessments at one and four weeks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help researchers design better treatments and clinical trials by clarifying how expectations shape mood and reward responses in young people.
How similar studies have gone: Sham TMS is commonly used to study placebo and expectancy effects, but using accelerated sham schedules in healthy adolescents and young adults is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * English speaking * Able to provide informed consent (and assent if \< 18 years) * 15-25 years old * Slight-to-severe symptoms of depression Exclusion Criteria: * Past exposure to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation * Unable to consent (due to medical condition, psychosis, substance use, etc) * Acute suicidal crisis or with active medical illness that would interfere with participation * Contraindications to receiving MRI as determined by screening questionnaires (Contraindications for MRI include metal in the body related to an injury or surgery, for example, surgical clips, metal fragments in the eyes, or piercings that cannot be removed. Subjects with braces or permanent retainers will not be scanned, because the effects on image signal are not well understood and may affect comparability between subjects and scan sites. Participants will be excluded for major neurological problems, such as seizure disorder, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, or sensory problems that may impair task performance, such as blindness.) * Participation in any clinical study with exposure to any investigational treatment or product within the previous 30 days, or plan on concurrent participation in other studies
Where it's running
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UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.