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RECRUITING Not applicable ClinicalTrials.gov

Exploring the Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Decision-Making

Sponsor: University of Bern • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07080489

Registry updated: 2026-08-31
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Description

The goal of this study is to examine whether high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) can influence decision-making for emotionally valenced content in younger and older adults, with or without major depression. The main questions are: In healthy adults, does brain stimulation modulate how people respond to emotionally valenced content during a decision-making task? What happens in the brain during modulation? Do these effects differ between younger and older adults? In adults with depression, does brain stimulation help shift attention towards positive content during the task? What happens in the brain? Are these effects moderated by age (younger vs. older adults)? The investigators will compare participants who receive real stimulation to those who receive sham (placebo) stimulation. Participants will: Receive high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) Perform a decision-making task involving emotionally valenced words Complete the task while undergoing a brain scan using ultra-high field 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure brain activity

Interventions

  • Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4 (Device)
    Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4).
  • Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4 (Device)
    Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.
  • Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4 (Device)
    Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and cathodal stimulation targeting the right DLPFC (F4).
  • Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4 (Device)
    Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and right DLPFC (F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria (Healthy): * Written Informed Consent * Age between 20-40 or 60-75 years * Fluent in German * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision * No color blindness * Right-handed * Non-smoker Exclusion Criteria (Healthy): * History of neurological disorders * History of psychiatric disorders * Use of psychotropic medication * Presence of magnetizable implants * Alcohol or drug dependence Inclusion Criteria (Patient): * Written Informed Consent * Diagnosed with mild to moderate depression * Age between 20-40 or 60-75 years * Fluent in German * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision * No color blindness Exclusion Criteria (Patient): * Intake of benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medication * psychiatric disorders other than depression (e.g., psychosis, mania, personality disorders) or depression with organic cause * Presence of magnetizable implants * Alcohol or drug dependence

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder Healthy Volunteer Aging

Locations

  • University of Bern, Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy — Bern, Switzerland
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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

View Official Record