Fear ExtinctionNCT07800455
Amygdala-Prefrontal in Fear Extinction
A study testing Direct intracranial electrical stimulation and Fear conditioning in people with Fear Extinction, run by Washington University School of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand how brain circuits involving the amygdala and prefrontal cortex contribute to fear learning and extinction. Fear extinction is the process by which a fear response decreases when a threat is no longer present. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Fear Extinction
- What is being tested?
- Direct intracranial electrical stimulation and Fear conditioning
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2026to 31 Jul 2032
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- At least 18 years of age.
- Able to understand the nature of the task.
- Able to provide informed consent themselves or provide consent through their legally authorized representative.
- Undergoing clinically indicated intracranial electrode implantation with coverage of at least one fear-related brain region, including the amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex, insula, or prefrontal cortex.
Who cannot join
- Under the age of 18.
- Unable to understand the nature of the task.
- Unable to provide informed consent themselves or provide consent through their legally authorized representative.
- No clinically indicated intracranial electrode coverage in any fear-related brain region, including the amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex, insula, or prefrontal cortex
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110-1010
Juliana Amaral Passipieri, PhD, 314-747-1443, ajuliana@wustl.edu
Tao Xie, PhD, 314-747-1443, xiet@wustl.edu
About this study
Official title: Causal Dynamics of Human Amygdala-Prefrontal Circuits During Fear Extinction Learning
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand how brain circuits involving the amygdala and prefrontal cortex contribute to fear learning and extinction. Fear extinction is the process by which a fear response decreases when a threat is no longer present. The study will include participants with epilepsy who are undergoing stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) monitoring as part of their clinical care. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How do the amygdala and prefrontal cortex interact during fear learning and extinction? Do different parts and hemispheres of the amygdala have different roles in fear learning and extinction? How does electrical stimulation of the amygdala affect these brain circuits and fear extinction? Participants will complete tasks involving fear learning and extinction while researchers record brain activity from clinically implanted electrodes. Researchers will also use electrical stimulation via these electrodes to study how amygdala activity affects other brain regions and fear extinction.
Read the detailed description
The ability to reduce fear responses through extinction when threats are no longer present is essential for mental health. Deficits in extinction underlie fear-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A critical gap remains in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying fear extinction, which poses a major barrier to developing more effective therapeutic interventions. The amygdala (AMY)-prefrontal circuits are critical in fear extinction. In animal models, the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) receives sensory inputs and initiates fear learning, while the basal nucleus of the amygdala (BA) integrates regulatory inputs from the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) for appropriate fear response. However, due to species-specific differences between animal and human neurobiology, the nucleus-specific contributions of the amygdala and their interactions with the vmPFC and dACC in human fear extinction and regulation remain poorly understood. Clinically indicated stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes, which allow direct recording and stimulation of amygdala-prefrontal circuits, provide a unique opportunity to address this gap. The objective of this study is to determine the causal dynamics of amygdala-prefrontal circuits involved in fear extinction learning in participants with epilepsy undergoing SEEG monitoring. The study will address three aims: (1) Determine the intrinsic and stimulation-induced dynamics of human amygdala-prefrontal circuits. The study will characterize cause pathways and circuit-level interactions in amygdala-vmPFC-dACC circuits using intracranial recordings and electrical stimulation. (2) Characterize nucleus-specific and hemispherical lateralized dynamics of amygdala-prefrontal circuits during fear extinction. The study will examine the neural dynamics of the LA, BA, and left and right amygdala-prefrontal circuits during fear extinction and regulation. (3) Determine the effects of theta-burst stimulation of amygdala nuclei on fear extinction. Theta-burst stimulation will be applied to the LA and BA during extinction learning to examine how targeted stimulation modulates fear-related neural circuits and behavior.
- Conditions
- Fear Extinction
- Being tested
- Direct intracranial electrical stimulation, Fear conditioning
- Keywords
- Fear extinction, Fear conditioning, Amygdala, Prefrontal cortex, Intracranial electrical stimulation, Fear learning, Stereoelectroencephalography, Neuromodulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Direct intracranial electrical stimulationOther
During a resting state and extinction learning phase, participants will receive electrical stimulation (single-pulse and/or high-frequency stimulation) through the intracranial electrodes while recording local field potentials from the neural networks. Direct electrical stimulation will be accomplished using FDA-approved equipment and stimulation protocols that are consistent with those used routinely for clinical purposes.
Fear conditioningBehavioural
Participants will be involved in a Pavlovian fear conditioning/extinction experiment while recording local field potential signals from the neural networks. During the experiment, neutral stimuli will be paired with an aversive but not painful electric shock (via the surface skin of the hand/foot) or screeching sound.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Amygdala-prefrontal in Fear Extinction | Experimental | Participants will undergo direct intracranial electrical stimulation and complete a Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction task while neural activity is recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes. Electrical stimulation, including single-pulse and/or high-frequency stimulation, will be delivered through the intracranial electrodes to investigate amygdala-prefrontal circuit dynamics. Participants may also receive theta-burst stimulation of the amygdala during extinction learning. Receives: Other: Direct intracranial electrical stimulation; Behavioral: Fear conditioning |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Broadband high-frequency power (70-170 Hz) in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Broadband high-frequency power (70-170 Hz) will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Broadband high-frequency power will be assessed during fear processing and during intracranial electrical stimulation to characterize local neural activity within amygdala-prefrontal circuits. For stimulation recordings, stimulation artifacts will be removed using appropriate artifact-removal methods, for example, MPARRM (matching pursuit-based artifact reconstruction and removal method) for single-pulse stimulation and LIBRA (linear baseline-integrated removal of artifacts) for high-frequency stimulation.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Oscillatory power at the stimulation frequency during intracranial electrical stimulation
Oscillatory power at the stimulation frequency will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Power at the stimulation frequency will be assessed during intracranial electrical stimulation to quantify stimulation-induced oscillatory entrainment within amygdala-prefrontal circuits. For theta-burst stimulation, theta-band activity (4-8 Hz) will be assessed.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Amplitude of cortico-cortical evoked potentials in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Cortico-cortical evoked potential (CCEP) amplitude will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes following single-pulse intracranial electrical stimulation. CCEP amplitude will be used to assess effective connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Theta/gamma band power in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Theta (4-8 Hz) and gamma (30-50 Hz) band power will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Theta/gamma-band power will be assessed during fear conditioning and extinction to characterize oscillatory neural activity within amygdala-prefrontal circuits.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Cross-frequency coupling in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Cross-frequency coupling will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Coupling between neural activity across different frequency bands, including phase-amplitude coupling between lower-frequency oscillations and high-frequency activity, will be assessed during resting state and fear processing to characterize cross-frequency neural interactions within amygdala-prefrontal circuits.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Skin conductance response amplitude during fear conditioning and extinction
Skin conductance response (SCR) amplitude will be quantified during fear conditioning and extinction to assess autonomic responses to conditioned stimuli.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Pupil diameter during fear conditioning and extinction
Pupil diameter will be quantified from eye-tracking recordings during fear conditioning and extinction to assess autonomic responses to conditioned stimuli.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Button press reaction time during fear conditioning and extinction
Button press reaction time will be quantified during fear conditioning and extinction to assess behavioral responses to conditioned stimuli.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Subjective unpleasantness rating during fear conditioning and extinction
Participants will rate the unpleasantness of the conditioned stimuli during fear conditioning and extinction. Ratings will be used to quantify subjective emotional responses to the conditioned stimuli.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Heart rate during fear conditioning and extinction
Heart rate will be quantified during fear conditioning and extinction to assess autonomic responses to conditioned stimuli.
Measured: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Sep 2026
- Study start15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Jul 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jul 2032 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Fear ExtinctionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Washington University School of MedicineThe 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Tao Xie, PhD, Principal investigator, Washington University School of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07800455
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 202507143
- Other IDs
- K99MH144521
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Xie T, Foutz TJ, Adamek M, Swift JR, Inman CS, Manns JR, Leuthardt EC, Willie JT, Brunner P. Single-pulse electrical stimulation artifact removal using the novel matching pursuit-based artifact reconstruction and removal method (MPARRM). J Neural Eng. 2023 Dec 27;20(6):066036. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad1385.
PubMed 38063368Xie T, van Rooij SJH, Inman CS, Wang S, Brunner P, Willie JT. The case for hemispheric lateralization of the human amygdala in fear processing. Mol Psychiatry. 2025 May;30(5):2252-2259. doi: 10.1038/s41380-025-02940-2. Epub 2025 Feb 27.
PubMed 40016388Xie T, van Rooij SJH, Sun S, Bryson NK, Demarest P, Park H, Maccotta L, Wang S, Brunner P, Willie JT. Right amygdala ablation reduces maladaptive negative interpretation bias and symptoms in a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder. Nat Commun. 2026 Jun 22;17(1):7868. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-74099-5.
PubMed 42331801
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Causal Dynamics of Human Amygdala-Prefrontal Circuits During Fear Extinction Learning
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07800455
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 202507143
- Conditions
- Fear Extinction
- Keywords
- Fear extinction, Fear conditioning, Amygdala, Prefrontal cortex, Intracranial electrical stimulation, Fear learning, Stereoelectroencephalography, Neuromodulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Washington University School of MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2032 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Sep 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 goal of this clinical trial is to understand how brain circuits involving the amygdala and prefrontal cortex contribute to fear learning and extinction. Fear extinction is the process by which a fear response decreases when a threat is no longer present. The study will include participants with epilepsy who are undergoing stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) monitoring as part of their clinical care. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How do the amygdala and prefrontal cortex interact during fear learning and extinction? Do different parts and hemispheres of the amygdala have different roles in fear learning and extinction? How does electrical stimulation of the amygdala affect these brain circuits and fear extinction? Participants will complete tasks involving fear learning and extinction while researchers record brain activity from clinically implanted electrodes. Researchers will also use electrical stimulation via these electrodes to study how amygdala activity affects other brain regions and fear extinction.
Detailed description
The ability to reduce fear responses through extinction when threats are no longer present is essential for mental health. Deficits in extinction underlie fear-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A critical gap remains in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying fear extinction, which poses a major barrier to developing more effective therapeutic interventions. The amygdala (AMY)-prefrontal circuits are critical in fear extinction. In animal models, the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) receives sensory inputs and initiates fear learning, while the basal nucleus of the amygdala (BA) integrates regulatory inputs from the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) for appropriate fear response. However, due to species-specific differences between animal and human neurobiology, the nucleus-specific contributions of the amygdala and their interactions with the vmPFC and dACC in human fear extinction and regulation remain poorly understood. Clinically indicated stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes, which allow direct recording and stimulation of amygdala-prefrontal circuits, provide a unique opportunity to address this gap. The objective of this study is to determine the causal dynamics of amygdala-prefrontal circuits involved in fear extinction learning in participants with epilepsy undergoing SEEG monitoring. The study will address three aims: (1) Determine the intrinsic and stimulation-induced dynamics of human amygdala-prefrontal circuits. The study will characterize cause pathways and circuit-level interactions in amygdala-vmPFC-dACC circuits using intracranial recordings and electrical stimulation. (2) Characterize nucleus-specific and hemispherical lateralized dynamics of amygdala-prefrontal circuits during fear extinction. The study will examine the neural dynamics of the LA, BA, and left and right amygdala-prefrontal circuits during fear extinction and regulation. (3) Determine the effects of theta-burst stimulation of amygdala nuclei on fear extinction. Theta-burst stimulation will be applied to the LA and BA during extinction learning to examine how targeted stimulation modulates fear-related neural circuits and behavior.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Amygdala-prefrontal in Fear Extinction | Experimental | Other: Direct intracranial electrical stimulation, Behavioral: Fear conditioningParticipants will undergo direct intracranial electrical stimulation and complete a Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction task while neural activity is recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes. Electrical stimulation, including single-pulse and/or high-frequency stimulation, will be delivered through the intracranial electrodes to investigate amygdala-prefrontal circuit dynamics. Participants may also receive theta-burst stimulation of the amygdala during extinction learning. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- At least 18 years of age.
- Able to understand the nature of the task.
- Able to provide informed consent themselves or provide consent through their legally authorized representative.
- Undergoing clinically indicated intracranial electrode implantation with coverage of at least one fear-related brain region, including the amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex, insula, or prefrontal cortex.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Under the age of 18.
- Unable to understand the nature of the task.
- Unable to provide informed consent themselves or provide consent through their legally authorized representative.
- No clinically indicated intracranial electrode coverage in any fear-related brain region, including the amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex, insula, or prefrontal cortex
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Direct intracranial electrical stimulationDuring a resting state and extinction learning phase, participants will receive electrical stimulation (single-pulse and/or high-frequency stimulation) through the intracranial electrodes while recording local field potentials from the neural networks. Direct electrical stimulation will be accomplished using FDA-approved equipment and stimulation protocols that are consistent with those used routinely for clinical purposes. | Other | Amygdala-prefrontal in Fear Extinction |
| Fear conditioningParticipants will be involved in a Pavlovian fear conditioning/extinction experiment while recording local field potential signals from the neural networks. During the experiment, neutral stimuli will be paired with an aversive but not painful electric shock (via the surface skin of the hand/foot) or screeching sound. | Behavioural | Amygdala-prefrontal in Fear Extinction |
Primary outcome
Broadband high-frequency power (70-170 Hz) in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Broadband high-frequency power (70-170 Hz) will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Broadband high-frequency power will be assessed during fear processing and during intracranial electrical stimulation to characterize local neural activity within amygdala-prefrontal circuits. For stimulation recordings, stimulation artifacts will be removed using appropriate artifact-removal methods, for example, MPARRM (matching pursuit-based artifact reconstruction and removal method) for single-pulse stimulation and LIBRA (linear baseline-integrated removal of artifacts) for high-frequency stimulation.
Oscillatory power at the stimulation frequency during intracranial electrical stimulation
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Oscillatory power at the stimulation frequency will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Power at the stimulation frequency will be assessed during intracranial electrical stimulation to quantify stimulation-induced oscillatory entrainment within amygdala-prefrontal circuits. For theta-burst stimulation, theta-band activity (4-8 Hz) will be assessed.
Amplitude of cortico-cortical evoked potentials in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Cortico-cortical evoked potential (CCEP) amplitude will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes following single-pulse intracranial electrical stimulation. CCEP amplitude will be used to assess effective connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
Theta/gamma band power in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Theta (4-8 Hz) and gamma (30-50 Hz) band power will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Theta/gamma-band power will be assessed during fear conditioning and extinction to characterize oscillatory neural activity within amygdala-prefrontal circuits.
Cross-frequency coupling in amygdala-prefrontal circuits
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Cross-frequency coupling will be quantified from local field potentials recorded through clinically implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Coupling between neural activity across different frequency bands, including phase-amplitude coupling between lower-frequency oscillations and high-frequency activity, will be assessed during resting state and fear processing to characterize cross-frequency neural interactions within amygdala-prefrontal circuits.
Skin conductance response amplitude during fear conditioning and extinction
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Skin conductance response (SCR) amplitude will be quantified during fear conditioning and extinction to assess autonomic responses to conditioned stimuli.
Pupil diameter during fear conditioning and extinction
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Pupil diameter will be quantified from eye-tracking recordings during fear conditioning and extinction to assess autonomic responses to conditioned stimuli.
Button press reaction time during fear conditioning and extinction
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Button press reaction time will be quantified during fear conditioning and extinction to assess behavioral responses to conditioned stimuli.
Subjective unpleasantness rating during fear conditioning and extinction
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Participants will rate the unpleasantness of the conditioned stimuli during fear conditioning and extinction. Ratings will be used to quantify subjective emotional responses to the conditioned stimuli.
1 secondary outcome
Heart rate during fear conditioning and extinction
Time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38063368Xie T, Foutz TJ, Adamek M, Swift JR, Inman CS, Manns JR, Leuthardt EC, Willie JT, Brunner P. Single-pulse electrical stimulation artifact removal using the novel matching pursuit-based artifact reconstruction and removal method (MPARRM). J Neural Eng. 2023 Dec 27;20(6):066036. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad1385.
- Background: PubMed 40016388Xie T, van Rooij SJH, Inman CS, Wang S, Brunner P, Willie JT. The case for hemispheric lateralization of the human amygdala in fear processing. Mol Psychiatry. 2025 May;30(5):2252-2259. doi: 10.1038/s41380-025-02940-2. Epub 2025 Feb 27.
- Background: PubMed 42331801Xie T, van Rooij SJH, Sun S, Bryson NK, Demarest P, Park H, Maccotta L, Wang S, Brunner P, Willie JT. Right amygdala ablation reduces maladaptive negative interpretation bias and symptoms in a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder. Nat Commun. 2026 Jun 22;17(1):7868. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-74099-5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Tao Xie, PhD principal investigator
Washington University School of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Direct intracranial electrical stimulation and Fear conditioning in people with Fear Extinction, run by Washington University School of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
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 4 inclusion and 4 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 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 United States. 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. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Tao Xie, PhD (314-747-1443, xiet@wustl.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Broadband high-frequency power (70-170 Hz) in amygdala-prefrontal circuits (time frame: During research sessions, up to 2 hours per day for up to 4 days during the participant's hospital stay.). The study lists 9 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07800455, which also lists 3 linked publications.
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 2 Sep 2026.