RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07080489

Exploring the Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Decision-Making

Sponsor

University of Bern

Enrollment

444 participants

Start Date

Mar 4, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Healthy Volunteer Aging Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder

Summary

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

Eligibility

Min Age: 20 YearsMax Age: 75 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is examining how a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex influences decision-making, using brain scanning and mild non-invasive brain stimulation. The study includes both healthy adults and people with mild to moderate depression, and compares how depression may affect thinking and decision processes. **You may be eligible if...** - You are between 20–40 or 60–75 years old and fluent in German - Healthy participants: You are right-handed, non-smoking, with normal or corrected vision and no color blindness - Patients: You have a diagnosis of mild to moderate depression - You do not have metal implants inside your body that could be affected by imaging equipment **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have a history of neurological or psychiatric disorders (for healthy participants) - You take benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medications (for patients) - You have a psychiatric condition other than depression, such as psychosis or mania (for patients) - You have alcohol or drug dependence Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

DEVICEActive high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4

Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4).

DEVICESham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4

Participants receive sham HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4). The device mimics the sensation of stimulation without delivering active current.

DEVICEActive high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4

Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left DLPFC (F3) and cathodal stimulation targeting the right DLPFC (F4).

DEVICESham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4

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.