Healthy ParticipantsNCT07268001
Effects of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation on Emotional Attention
A study testing Continuous theta burst stimulation in people with Healthy Participants, run by University of Cyprus at 1 site in Cyprus.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the differential effect of continuous TBS (cTBS) over the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on the facilitation of attention towards emotional (i.e., pleasant and distress-ing) versus neutral stimuli in healthy young adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Participants
- What is being tested?
- Continuous theta burst stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 91 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCyprus
- Study dates
- 15 Apr 2020to 16 May 2020
- 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 Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Medication-free, right-handed, normal vision, without ant estabished risk factor to rTMS (screening performed with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Safety Questionnaire).
Who cannot join
- History of psychiatric/neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, head trauma and migraine.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation to the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Attention to Emotional Stimuli
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the differential effect of continuous TBS (cTBS) over the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on the facilitation of attention towards emotional (i.e., pleasant and distress-ing) versus neutral stimuli in healthy young adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- To what extend a temporary modulation of DLPFC activity through cTBS influences attentional responses to emotional stimuli?
- To what extend the effects of cTBS on attentional responses to emotional stimuli differ depending on whether the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is stimulated?
Read more
Researchers will compare four stimulation conditions: 1) real cTBS on the left DLPFC, 2) real cTBS on the right DLPFC, 3) sham cTBS on the left DLPFC, and 4) sham cTBS on the right DLPFC, to see if participants receiving cTBS over the DLPFC would exhibit faster reaction times to probes replacing pleasant and distressing images, relative to a sham condition.
Participants will receive a short cTBS session (40 seconds), and after that, they will be presented with an emotional dot-probe task (computerized task).
Regarding the cTBS Protocol, coil positioning will be determined using standardized coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system, with F4 corresponding to the right DLPFC stimulation target and F3 corresponding to the left DLPFC. The location and orientation of each participant's coil placement will be indicated on a nylon cap that participants wore throughout the single stimulation session. A figure-of-eight focal coil (70 mm diameter) will be used. The coil will be held in a fixed position by a mechanical arm and oriented so that the induced electric current flowed in a posterior-anterior direction. Stimulus intensities were set at 70% of active motor threshold (AMT). Each TBS session burst consists of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses).
Regarding the dot-probe task is a common laboratory paradigm used to index attentional bias for emotional stimuli at early stages of information processing. It provides a quick, convenient, and inexpensive index of emotional responsiveness. The emotional pictures version of the task used in the current study presents a series of picture pairs of distressing (e.g., crying child), neutral (e.g., book) and pleasant (e.g., smiling baby) emotional content using images primarily taken from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). This task consists of 1 block of practice stimuli (12 picture pairs) followed by 3 experi-mental blocks, each containing 12 picture pairs. Each picture presentation had three sequential components: (1) a 500 millisecond image of fixation cross appearing in the center of the screen, (2) a 500 millisecond simultaneous presentation of one of three potential picture pairings: neutral-neutral, pleasant-neutral and distress-neutral, with stimuli centered and located above or below the location of the fixation cross, and (3) a second image of fixation cross appearing in either the top or bottom picture location. Participants will be instructed to respond as fast as they could and after every trial they selected a key on the keyboard that corresponded to the location on the screen (up or down) where the dot-probe appeared. If no key was pressed within 5000 milliseconds, the response will be recorded as incorrect.
- Conditions
- Healthy Participants
- Being tested
- Continuous theta burst stimulation, Sham Control
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Continuous theta burst stimulationDevice
Also called Non invasive brain stimulation
A TBS session burst consist of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses).
Sham ControlDevice
Sham stimulation was delivered using an identical with the real Magstim figure of eight focal sham coil (70 mm diameter) that produced the same stimulation noise. Sham Magstim figure-of-eight coil have been found to induce nearly zero electric-field under the coil's center.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| cTBS over the left DLPFC | Experimental | Participants receive 1 session of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). The TBS sesssion consisted of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses). After stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. Receives: Device: Continuous theta burst stimulation |
| cTBS over the right DLPFC | Experimental | Participants receive 1 session of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F4, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). The TBS sesssion consisted of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses). After stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. Receives: Device: Continuous theta burst stimulation |
| sham cTBS over the left DLPFC | Sham comparator | Participants receive 1 session of sham continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). Sham stimulation was delivered using a sham coil that produced the same stimulation noise, but inducing nearly zero electric-field under the coil's center. After sham stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. Receives: Device: Sham Control |
| sham cTBS over the right DLPFC | Sham comparator | Participants receive 1 session of sham continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). Sham stimulation was delivered using a sham coil that produced the same stimulation noise, but inducing nearly zero electric-field under the coil's center. After sham stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. Receives: Device: Sham Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Response times in the dot-probe task
Response times to distressing, pleasant, and neutral stimuli were assessed using the dot-probe paradigm.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of dot-probe task, that was performed in 1 session (1 day).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Dec 2025
- Study start15 Apr 2020
- Primary completion16 May 2020
- Study completion16 May 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy ParticipantsStudies 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
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 91 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Cyprus
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kostas Fanti, University of Cyprus
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07268001
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ΕΕΒΚ/ΕΠ/2019/67
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 5 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation to the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Attention to Emotional Stimuli
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07268001
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ΕΕΒΚ/ΕΠ/2019/67
- Conditions
- Healthy Participants
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 91 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of CyprusUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Apr 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 May 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 May 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Dec 2025 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the differential effect of continuous TBS (cTBS) over the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on the facilitation of attention towards emotional (i.e., pleasant and distress-ing) versus neutral stimuli in healthy young adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- To what extend a temporary modulation of DLPFC activity through cTBS influences attentional responses to emotional stimuli?
- To what extend the effects of cTBS on attentional responses to emotional stimuli differ depending on whether the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is stimulated?
Researchers will compare four stimulation conditions: 1) real cTBS on the left DLPFC, 2) real cTBS on the right DLPFC, 3) sham cTBS on the left DLPFC, and 4) sham cTBS on the right DLPFC, to see if participants receiving cTBS over the DLPFC would exhibit faster reaction times to probes replacing pleasant and distressing images, relative to a sham condition.
Participants will receive a short cTBS session (40 seconds), and after that, they will be presented with an emotional dot-probe task (computerized task).
Regarding the cTBS Protocol, coil positioning will be determined using standardized coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system, with F4 corresponding to the right DLPFC stimulation target and F3 corresponding to the left DLPFC. The location and orientation of each participant's coil placement will be indicated on a nylon cap that participants wore throughout the single stimulation session. A figure-of-eight focal coil (70 mm diameter) will be used. The coil will be held in a fixed position by a mechanical arm and oriented so that the induced electric current flowed in a posterior-anterior direction. Stimulus intensities were set at 70% of active motor threshold (AMT). Each TBS session burst consists of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses).
Regarding the dot-probe task is a common laboratory paradigm used to index attentional bias for emotional stimuli at early stages of information processing. It provides a quick, convenient, and inexpensive index of emotional responsiveness. The emotional pictures version of the task used in the current study presents a series of picture pairs of distressing (e.g., crying child), neutral (e.g., book) and pleasant (e.g., smiling baby) emotional content using images primarily taken from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). This task consists of 1 block of practice stimuli (12 picture pairs) followed by 3 experi-mental blocks, each containing 12 picture pairs. Each picture presentation had three sequential components: (1) a 500 millisecond image of fixation cross appearing in the center of the screen, (2) a 500 millisecond simultaneous presentation of one of three potential picture pairings: neutral-neutral, pleasant-neutral and distress-neutral, with stimuli centered and located above or below the location of the fixation cross, and (3) a second image of fixation cross appearing in either the top or bottom picture location. Participants will be instructed to respond as fast as they could and after every trial they selected a key on the keyboard that corresponded to the location on the screen (up or down) where the dot-probe appeared. If no key was pressed within 5000 milliseconds, the response will be recorded as incorrect.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| cTBS over the left DLPFC | Experimental | Device: Continuous theta burst stimulationParticipants receive 1 session of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). The TBS sesssion consisted of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses). After stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. |
| cTBS over the right DLPFC | Experimental | Device: Continuous theta burst stimulationParticipants receive 1 session of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F4, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). The TBS sesssion consisted of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses). After stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. |
| sham cTBS over the left DLPFC | Sham comparator | Device: Sham ControlParticipants receive 1 session of sham continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). Sham stimulation was delivered using a sham coil that produced the same stimulation noise, but inducing nearly zero electric-field under the coil's center. After sham stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. |
| sham cTBS over the right DLPFC | Sham comparator | Device: Sham ControlParticipants receive 1 session of sham continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; F3, following standard coordinates from the EEG International 10-20 system). Sham stimulation was delivered using a sham coil that produced the same stimulation noise, but inducing nearly zero electric-field under the coil's center. After sham stimulation, attentional responses to pleasant and distressing images are assessed using the dot-probe task, which measures attentional bias toward emotional stimuli by presenting pairs of pleasant-neutral, distressing-neutral and neutral-neutral images. After each image pair, a dot appears in the location of one image, and participants must quickly indicate its position. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Medication-free, right-handed, normal vision, without ant estabished risk factor to rTMS (screening performed with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Safety Questionnaire).
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- History of psychiatric/neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, head trauma and migraine.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous theta burst stimulationAlso: Non invasive brain stimulationA TBS session burst consist of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, with each train being repeated every 200 ms (5 Hz) for 40 seconds (600 pulses). | Device | cTBS over the left DLPFC, cTBS over the right DLPFC |
| Sham ControlSham stimulation was delivered using an identical with the real Magstim figure of eight focal sham coil (70 mm diameter) that produced the same stimulation noise. Sham Magstim figure-of-eight coil have been found to induce nearly zero electric-field under the coil's center. | Device | sham cTBS over the left DLPFC, sham cTBS over the right DLPFC |
Primary outcome
Response times in the dot-probe task
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of dot-probe task, that was performed in 1 session (1 day).
Response times to distressing, pleasant, and neutral stimuli were assessed using the dot-probe paradigm.
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 5 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Healthy Participants
Not yet recruitingPhase 1
A Phase I Study of GLR2053 Tablets in Chinese Healthy Adult Participants
Atopic Dermatitis
Not yet recruiting
Neuroergonomic Analysis of a Brain-Computer Interface Device (BCI)
Healthy Volunteers - Male and Female
RecruitingPhase 1
First-in-Human Trial to Assess REGN20423 in Healthy Adult Participants and Adult Participants With Atopic Dermatitis
Healthy Volunteer, Atopic Dermatitis
RecruitingPhase 1
A Study to Evaluate the Metabolism, the Routes and Extent of Elimination, and Drug Levels of [14C]Navlimetostat (BMS-986504) in Healthy Female Participants
Healthy Female Participants
Not yet recruiting
REM Enhancement Sleep Technology for Well-being, Emotion, and Life Lift
Healthy Adult Participants
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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Continuous theta burst stimulation in people with Healthy Participants, run by University of Cyprus at 1 site in Cyprus.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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 5 Dec 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 Cyprus. 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?
Response times in the dot-probe task (time frame: From enrollment to the end of dot-probe task, that was performed in 1 session (1 day).). 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 5 Dec 2025.