Using brain stimulation to reduce impulsive decisions after drinking.
Official title: Mitigating the Disinhibiting Effects of Alcohol With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Run by University of Kentucky · NCT07188376 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will test whether two types of noninvasive brain stimulation change decision-making and self-control after drinking in healthy young adults who regularly drink alcohol.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 21 Years to 29 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Kentucky Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lexington, Kentucky) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07188376 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Healthy adults aged 21–29 who are regular moderate alcohol drinkers, fluent in English, and who meet the study's health, BMI, and screening requirements.
✕Probably not a fit
People with alcohol use disorder, current or past psychiatric conditions, seizure history, certain implanted medical devices, pregnancy, or those outside the age/BMI ranges are unlikely to benefit or are ineligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This within-subject experiment has each participant attend five separate sessions to receive intermittent theta burst (iTBS), continuous theta burst (cTBS), or sham stimulation combined with either an alcoholic or placebo beverage. Before and after drinking and stimulation, participants complete behavioral tasks that measure decision-making and impulse control to see how alcohol and different forms of TMS interact. The design directly compares iTBS (which typically increases cortical activity), cTBS (which typically decreases cortical activity), and sham stimulation in the same people. Results will show whether changing prefrontal activity can alter alcohol-related disinhibition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a way to reduce risky or impulsive behaviors while people are intoxicated.
How similar studies have gone: Previous TMS research has demonstrated effects on prefrontal activity and impulsivity, but using iTBS/cTBS to counteract alcohol's acute disinhibiting effects is relatively novel and not yet proven.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 21-29 * Must be competent in English * BMI between 19 and 26 * At least a high school education * Moderate alcohol users (e.g., at least occasional alcohol use, without meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder) * Negative urine drug screen for illicit drugs * Negative urine pregnancy test (if applicable) on testing days Exclusion Criteria: * History of seizures or a first-degree relative with seizure history * History of head trauma or other CNS injuries * Current or past psychiatric disorders (including substance use disorder, except nicotine or caffeine) * Contraindications for non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., metal implants, pacemaker) * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding * Current use of medications that lower seizure threshold * Positive alcohol withdrawal symptoms * Smokes more than five cigarettes per day (to avoid acute nicotine effects or withdrawal during visits)
Where it's running
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University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Michael Wesley, PhD — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Michael J. Wesley, Ph.D.
- Email: michael.wesley@uky.edu
- Phone: 18593231332
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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.