Memory, EpisodicSAMENCT05847933
Influence of Temporo-occipital Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation on Aversive Episodic Memory Performance
A study testing rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment), rTMS (high frequency) and rTMS (low frequency) in people with Memory, Episodic, run by Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MD at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
A pilot study, examining the effect of repeated transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (rTMS) on the formation of memories with negative valence. The investigators hypothesize that an effective rTMS protocol to reduce memory performance for adverse events can be found. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Memory, Episodic
- What is being tested?
- rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment), rTMS (high frequency) and rTMS (low frequency)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 105 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 6 Jun 2023to 31 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male or female
- Generally healthy
- Normotensive (BP 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg)
- BMI: 19 - 30 kg/m2
- Age: 18 - 30 years
- Fluent German-speaking
Who cannot join
- Metal in the brain, skull or elsewhere in the body (e.g., splinters, fragments, clips, etc.)
- Implanted neurostimulator (e.g., DBS, epidural/subdural, VNS)
- Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines
- Medication infusion device
- Nonremovable Piercings in the head area, pivot teeth (retainers are no exclusion criterion)
- Tattoos (head area) less than 3 months old or older than 20 years
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- Condition after neurosurgery
- Hearing problems or tinnitus
- Not able to sit still due to tremor, tics, itching
- History of repeated syncope
- Head trauma diagnosed as concussion or associated with loss of consciousness
- diagnosis of epilepsy, or a convulsion or a seizure in the past of the participant or his/her close family
- TMS in the past showing problems
- Surgical procedures to spinal cord
- Spinal or ventricular derivations
- Alcohol or drug intake 48 hours before start of visits
- Regular intake of any medication or CNS-active medication 48h before visit
- rMT above the limits of rTMS device.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Switzerland1 site
University of Basel, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience
Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4055
About this study
Official title: A Pilot Study on the Influence of Temporo-occipital Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation on Aversive Episodic Memory Performance
A pilot study, examining the effect of repeated transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (rTMS) on the formation of memories with negative valence. The investigators hypothesize that an effective rTMS protocol to reduce memory performance for adverse events can be found.
- Conditions
- Memory, Episodic
- Being tested
- rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment), rTMS (cTBS sham), rTMS (cTBS 50 Hz active control), rTMS (high frequency), rTMS (low frequency)
- Keywords
- memory, Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation, emotional valence
- Medical subject headings
- Recurrence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment)Device
rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics:
- Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band)
- Intensity: 80% of resting motor threshold (rMT)
- Location: consecutively on the left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0)
- Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total.
- Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line)
rTMS (cTBS sham)Device
rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics:
- Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band)
- Intensity: 0%
- Location: consecutively on the left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0)
- Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total.
- Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line)
rTMS (cTBS 50 Hz active control)Device
rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics:
- Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band)
- Intensity: 80% of resting motor threshold (rMT)
- Location: Right superior frontal cortex
- Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total.
- Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line)
rTMS (high frequency)Device
rTMS using high frequency protocol with the following characteristics:
- Frequency: 20 Hz
- Intensity: 120% of rMT for rMT < 54% \& 65% of MSO for rMT ≥ 54%
- Location: temporo-occipital cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere
- Duration: 20 minutes, continuously
- Timing: During the pictorial memory task (on-line) 1 second stimulation and 14 seconds inter-train interval for 76 trains resulting in a total of 1520 pulses.
rTMS (low frequency)Device
rTMS using Low frequency protocol with the following characteristics:
- Frequency: 1 Hz
- Intensity: 110% of rMT
- Location: temporo-occipital cortex of dominant brain hemisphere (MNI left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0)
- Duration: 30 minutes, continuously
- Timing: Starting 10 minutes before and continuing during the picture viewing and valence rating of the pictures of the memory task (on-line).
rTMS (high frequency sham)Device
- Frequency: 20 Hz
- Intensity: 10% of MSO
- Location: temporo-occipital cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere
- Duration: 20 minutes, continuously
- Timing: During the pictorial memory task (on-line) 1 second stimulation and 14 seconds inter-train interval for 76 trains resulting in a total of 1520 pulses.
rTMS (high frequency active control)Device
- Frequency: 20 Hz
- Intensity: 120% of rMT for rMT < 54% \& 65% of MSO for rMT ≥ 54%
- Location: right superior frontal cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere
- Duration: 20 minutes, continuously
- Timing: During the pictorial memory task (on-line) 1 second stimulation and 14 seconds inter-train interval for 76 trains resulting in a total of 1520 pulses.
rTMS (low frequency active control )Device
- Frequency: 1 Hz
- Intensity: 110% of rMT
- Location: Right superior frontal cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere
- Duration: 6 minutes
- Timing: Starting 1 minutes before and continuing during the memory task (Online)
rTMS ( cTBS 30 Hz active control)Device
- Bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz:
- Frequency: trains of 30 Hz (3 pulses) every 167 ms (frequency of 6 Hz, in the range of theta band)
- Intensity: 100% of resting motor threshold (rMT)
- Location: consecutively on right superior frontal cortex
- Duration: 33.3 seconds for each side
- Timing: Immediately before pictorial memory task (off-line)
rTMS (cTBS 30 Hz)Device
- Bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz:
- Frequency: trains of 30 Hz (3 pulses) every 167 ms (frequency of 6 Hz, in the range of theta band)
- Intensity: 100% of resting motor threshold (rMT)
- Location: consecutively on left and right temporo-occipital cortex
- Duration: 33.3 seconds for each side
- Timing: Immediately before pictorial memory task (off-line)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| cTBS 50 Hz experiment | Experimental | Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the cTBS 50 Hz protocol. Receives: Device: rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment) |
| cTBS sham | Sham comparator | Sham brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the cTBS 50Hz protocol pattern Receives: Device: rTMS (cTBS sham) |
| cTBS 50Hz active control | Active comparator | Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the cTBS 50 Hz protocol Receives: Device: rTMS (cTBS 50 Hz active control) |
| High frequency | Experimental | Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the 20Hz protocol Receives: Device: rTMS (high frequency) |
| Low frequency | Experimental | Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the 1Hz protocol Receives: Device: rTMS (low frequency) |
| cTBS 30Hz | Experimental | Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the cTBS 30 Hz protocol. Receives: Device: rTMS (cTBS 30 Hz) |
| cTBS 30 Hz Active control | Active comparator | Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the cTBS 30 Hz protocol Receives: Device: rTMS ( cTBS 30 Hz active control) |
| High frequency Active control | Active comparator | Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the 20 Hz online protocol Receives: Device: rTMS (high frequency active control) |
| Low frequency Active control | Active comparator | Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the 1 Hz offline protocol Receives: Device: rTMS (low frequency active control ) |
| High frequency sham | Sham comparator | Brain stimulation on the dominant temporo-occipital cortex using 10% maximum system output (MSO) and 20 Hz online protocol. Receives: Device: rTMS (high frequency sham) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
memory recall performance
The difference between valence specific (negative, positive, and neutral) memory performance as assessed by a standard picture recall episodic memory task.
Measured: On average 1 hour after intervention
Secondary outcomes (1)
Working memory performance
Working memory performance measured by n-back task
Measured: On average 1 hour after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 May 2023
- Study start6 Jun 2023
- Primary completion1 Apr 2025
- Study completion31 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Memory, EpisodicStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MD
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MD, University of Basel
- Investigators
- Dominique de Quervain, Prof. MD, Study chair, University of Basel, Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05847933
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-00392
- Other IDs
- 2023
- Acronym
- SAME
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2023
- Last updated
- 29 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All IPD (de-identified) that underlie results in a publication will be shared upon reasonable request
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Pilot Study on the Influence of Temporo-occipital Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation on Aversive Episodic Memory Performance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05847933
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SAME / 2023-00392
- Conditions
- Memory, Episodic
- Keywords
- memory, Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation, emotional valence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MDUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 May 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A pilot study, examining the effect of repeated transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (rTMS) on the formation of memories with negative valence. The investigators hypothesize that an effective rTMS protocol to reduce memory performance for adverse events can be found.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 10
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| cTBS 50 Hz experiment | Experimental | Device: rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment)Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the cTBS 50 Hz protocol. |
| cTBS sham | Sham comparator | Device: rTMS (cTBS sham)Sham brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the cTBS 50Hz protocol pattern |
| cTBS 50Hz active control | Active comparator | Device: rTMS (cTBS 50 Hz active control)Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the cTBS 50 Hz protocol |
| High frequency | Experimental | Device: rTMS (high frequency)Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the 20Hz protocol |
| Low frequency | Experimental | Device: rTMS (low frequency)Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the 1Hz protocol |
| cTBS 30Hz | Experimental | Device: rTMS (cTBS 30 Hz)Active brain stimulation on the temporo-occipital cortex using the cTBS 30 Hz protocol. |
| cTBS 30 Hz Active control | Active comparator | Device: rTMS ( cTBS 30 Hz active control)Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the cTBS 30 Hz protocol |
| High frequency Active control | Active comparator | Device: rTMS (high frequency active control)Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the 20 Hz online protocol |
| Low frequency Active control | Active comparator | Device: rTMS (low frequency active control )Active brain stimulation on the right superior frontal cortex using the 1 Hz offline protocol |
| High frequency sham | Sham comparator | Device: rTMS (high frequency sham)Brain stimulation on the dominant temporo-occipital cortex using 10% maximum system output (MSO) and 20 Hz online protocol. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Male or female
- Generally healthy
- Normotensive (BP 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg)
- BMI: 19 - 30 kg/m2
- Age: 18 - 30 years
Key exclusion criteria (18 listed)
- Metal in the brain, skull or elsewhere in the body (e.g., splinters, fragments, clips, etc.)
- Implanted neurostimulator (e.g., DBS, epidural/subdural, VNS)
- Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines
- Medication infusion device
- Nonremovable Piercings in the head area, pivot teeth (retainers are no exclusion criterion)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment)rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics: * Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 80% of resting motor threshold (rMT) * Location: consecutively on the left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) * Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total. * Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line) | Device | cTBS 50 Hz experiment |
| rTMS (cTBS sham)rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics: * Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 0% * Location: consecutively on the left and right temporo-occipital cortex (MNI coordinates: left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) * Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total. * Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line) | Device | cTBS sham |
| rTMS (cTBS 50 Hz active control)rTMS using cTBS protocol with the following characteristics: * Frequency: trains of 50 Hz (3 pulses) every 200ms (frequency of 5 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 80% of resting motor threshold (rMT) * Location: Right superior frontal cortex * Duration: 40 seconds for each hemisphere, 80 seconds in total. * Timing: Immediately before viewing pictures in pictorial memory task (off-line) | Device | cTBS 50Hz active control |
| rTMS (high frequency)rTMS using high frequency protocol with the following characteristics: * Frequency: 20 Hz * Intensity: 120% of rMT for rMT < 54% \& 65% of MSO for rMT ≥ 54% * Location: temporo-occipital cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere * Duration: 20 minutes, continuously * Timing: During the pictorial memory task (on-line) 1 second stimulation and 14 seconds inter-train interval for 76 trains resulting in a total of 1520 pulses. | Device | High frequency |
| rTMS (low frequency)rTMS using Low frequency protocol with the following characteristics: * Frequency: 1 Hz * Intensity: 110% of rMT * Location: temporo-occipital cortex of dominant brain hemisphere (MNI left hemisphere: -50, -72, 4; right hemisphere:50, -66, 0) * Duration: 30 minutes, continuously * Timing: Starting 10 minutes before and continuing during the picture viewing and valence rating of the pictures of the memory task (on-line). | Device | Low frequency |
| rTMS (high frequency sham)* Frequency: 20 Hz * Intensity: 10% of MSO * Location: temporo-occipital cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere * Duration: 20 minutes, continuously * Timing: During the pictorial memory task (on-line) 1 second stimulation and 14 seconds inter-train interval for 76 trains resulting in a total of 1520 pulses. | Device | High frequency sham |
| rTMS (high frequency active control)* Frequency: 20 Hz * Intensity: 120% of rMT for rMT < 54% \& 65% of MSO for rMT ≥ 54% * Location: right superior frontal cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere * Duration: 20 minutes, continuously * Timing: During the pictorial memory task (on-line) 1 second stimulation and 14 seconds inter-train interval for 76 trains resulting in a total of 1520 pulses. | Device | High frequency Active control |
| rTMS (low frequency active control )* Frequency: 1 Hz * Intensity: 110% of rMT * Location: Right superior frontal cortex of the dominant brain hemisphere * Duration: 6 minutes * Timing: Starting 1 minutes before and continuing during the memory task (Online) | Device | Low frequency Active control |
| rTMS ( cTBS 30 Hz active control)* Bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz: * Frequency: trains of 30 Hz (3 pulses) every 167 ms (frequency of 6 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 100% of resting motor threshold (rMT) * Location: consecutively on right superior frontal cortex * Duration: 33.3 seconds for each side * Timing: Immediately before pictorial memory task (off-line) | Device | cTBS 30 Hz Active control |
| rTMS (cTBS 30 Hz)* Bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) 30 Hz: * Frequency: trains of 30 Hz (3 pulses) every 167 ms (frequency of 6 Hz, in the range of theta band) * Intensity: 100% of resting motor threshold (rMT) * Location: consecutively on left and right temporo-occipital cortex * Duration: 33.3 seconds for each side * Timing: Immediately before pictorial memory task (off-line) | Device | cTBS 30Hz |
Primary outcome
memory recall performance
Time frame: On average 1 hour after intervention
The difference between valence specific (negative, positive, and neutral) memory performance as assessed by a standard picture recall episodic memory task.
1 secondary outcome
Working memory performance
Time frame: On average 1 hour after intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All IPD (de-identified) that underlie results in a publication will be shared upon reasonable request
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Dominique de Quervain, Prof. MD study chair
University of Basel, Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing rTMS (cTBS 50Hz experiment), rTMS (high frequency) and rTMS (low frequency) in people with Memory, Episodic, run by Prof. Dominique de Quervain, MD at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 18 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
memory recall performance (time frame: On average 1 hour after intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jul 2025.