Health Adult SubjectsNCT07433829
Prefrontal Neuroplasticity and Coping Strategies in Healthy Population
A study testing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with Health Adult Subjects, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
The current study serves as a pilot for the GRF project "Predicting illness trajectories in fully remitted major depression using concurrent TBS/fNIRS." The project examines whether intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) induces immediate changes in prefrontal excitability in healthy individuals, compared to sham… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Health Adult Subjects
- What is being tested?
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 17 Jan 2026to 31 Mar 2026
- 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 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 18-60 years old;
Who cannot join
- a family history of psychiatric disorders;
- history of or currently diagnosed neuropsychiatric conditions;
- history of or active systemic illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, or other medical conditions;
- contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS);
- any prior exposure to brain stimulation procedures.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Prefrontal Neuroplasticity and Coping Strategies in Healthy Population: a Randomized Sham Controlled Trial
The current study serves as a pilot for the GRF project "Predicting illness trajectories in fully remitted major depression using concurrent TBS/fNIRS." The project examines whether intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) induces immediate changes in prefrontal excitability in healthy individuals, compared to sham stimulation. In this randomized, sham-controlled trial, investigators will assess several psychological measures-including the Perceived Stress Scale and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations-to explore how stress levels and coping strategies relate to immediate prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity changes following TBS.
- Conditions
- Health Adult Subjects
- Being tested
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Keywords
- concurrent TMS/fNIRS, prefrontal cortex, stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transcranial Magnetic StimulationDevice
Also called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Sham
sham stimulation protocols is to mimic the sensations experienced by participants during active stimulation, without stimulating the brain
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Real Stimulation | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive a real session of iTBS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Receives: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
| Sham Stimulation | Sham comparator | Participants in this arm will receive a sham session of iTBS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Receives: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
iTBS induced prefrontal cortex activity and connectivity
Measured: 3 minutes before, during, and after the stimulation
Secondary outcomes (2)
perceived stress scale
Measured: the same day before conducting the experiment
coping inventory for stressful situations
Measured: the same day before conducting the experiment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Feb 2026
- Study start17 Jan 2026
- Primary completion31 Mar 2026
- Study completion31 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Health Adult SubjectsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Georg Kranz, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07433829
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HSEARS20230705001-04
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Prefrontal Neuroplasticity and Coping Strategies in Healthy Population: a Randomized Sham Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07433829
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HSEARS20230705001-04
- Conditions
- Health Adult Subjects
- Keywords
- concurrent TMS/fNIRS, prefrontal cortex, stress
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Feb 2026 (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 current study serves as a pilot for the GRF project "Predicting illness trajectories in fully remitted major depression using concurrent TBS/fNIRS." The project examines whether intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) induces immediate changes in prefrontal excitability in healthy individuals, compared to sham stimulation. In this randomized, sham-controlled trial, investigators will assess several psychological measures-including the Perceived Stress Scale and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations-to explore how stress levels and coping strategies relate to immediate prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity changes following TBS.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Real Stimulation | Active comparator | Device: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationParticipants in this arm will receive a real session of iTBS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex |
| Sham Stimulation | Sham comparator | Device: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationParticipants in this arm will receive a sham session of iTBS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 18-60 years old;
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- a family history of psychiatric disorders;
- history of or currently diagnosed neuropsychiatric conditions;
- history of or active systemic illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, or other medical conditions;
- contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS);
- any prior exposure to brain stimulation procedures.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial Magnetic StimulationAlso: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Shamsham stimulation protocols is to mimic the sensations experienced by participants during active stimulation, without stimulating the brain | Device | Real Stimulation, Sham Stimulation |
Primary outcome
iTBS induced prefrontal cortex activity and connectivity
Time frame: 3 minutes before, during, and after the stimulation
2 secondary outcomes
perceived stress scale
Time frame: the same day before conducting the experiment
coping inventory for stressful situations
Time frame: the same day before conducting the experiment
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 26 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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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.
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 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with Health Adult Subjects, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in China.
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 5 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 26 Jun 2026. 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 China. 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?
iTBS induced prefrontal cortex activity and connectivity (time frame: 3 minutes before, during, and after the stimulation). 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 26 Jun 2026.