TMS to map the brain circuits of social motivation
Official title: Personalized Neuromodulation Targeting Dysregulated Motivational Responses Underlying Social Avoidance Behavior
Run by Auburn University · NCT06274112 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 25 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Auburn University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Auburn, Alabama) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | March 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06274112 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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 it's running
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Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama, 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.