TMS to map the brain circuits of social motivation

Personalized Neuromodulation Targeting Dysregulated Motivational Responses Underlying Social Avoidance Behavior

This project uses transcranial magnetic stimulation to test how brain circuits that drive social motivation work in adults aged 25–50 who avoid social situations or have depression or social anxiety.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 25 Years to 50 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Auburn University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Auburn, Alabama)
• Trial ID: NCT06274112 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Participants complete four in-person visits over about a month that include clinical interviews, questionnaires, computer-based behavioral tasks, MRI scans, and sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The protocol combines brief and full TMS sessions with functional MRI and behavioral testing to observe how stimulation alters neural activity related to social approach and avoidance. Individual sessions last about 1.5–3 hours and include baseline and post-stimulation assessments. Collected data will be used to map neural circuits of social motivation rather than to deliver therapeutic treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 25–50 in the Auburn/Opelika area who meet diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder or social anxiety disorder, score above threshold for social avoidance, and have a stable psychotropic medication regimen.

Not a fit: People with bipolar disorder, recent substance use disorder, psychotic-spectrum disorders, epilepsy or a history of seizures, ferromagnetic implants, unstable psychotropic medications, pregnancy, or those who live far from Auburn are not eligible and are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal brain targets that guide development of more effective treatments for social avoidance, depression, and social anxiety.

How similar studies have performed: TMS combined with MRI has been used successfully to probe and sometimes modulate mood and anxiety-related circuits, but applying it specifically to map social motivation circuitry is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* A diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder OR a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder (assessed/confirmed at screening visit).
* Scoring above clinical threshold on a measure of social avoidant behavior (assessed/confirmed at phone screen).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable psychotropic medication regimen (i.e., changes in psychotropic medication or dosage in past 3 months).
* Current or lifetime diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.
* A diagnosis of substance use disorder within past 12 months.
* A diagnosis of psychotic-spectrum disorder such as Schizophrenia.
* Pregnancy or probable pregnancy.
* Medical illness or medical treatment that would preclude or inhibit study participation.
* Neurological disorder associated with brain damage.
* History of seizures or head trauma with loss of consciousness \> 5 minutes.
* Family history of epilepsy or personal epilepsy/seizures
* Ferromagnetic implants or ferrmagnetic objects within body (e.g., pacemaker).

Where this trial is running

Auburn, Alabama

• Auburn University — Auburn, Alabama, United States (RECRUITING)

Conditions: Social Avoidant Behavior, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder