Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive DisorderHealthy VolunteerAging
Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)
Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4Sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/ kathodal F4
Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) - anodal F3/F4: Participants receive anodal HD-tDCS targeting the left or right DLPFC (F3/F4).
Sham 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.
Active 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).
Sham 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.
Study 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
Sex
ALL
Min age
20 Years
Max age
75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria (Healthy):
* Written Informed Consent
* Age between 20-40 or 60-75 years
* Fluent in German
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* No color blindness
* Right-handed
* Non-smoker
Exclusion Criteria (Healthy):
* History of neurological disorders
* History of psychiatric disorders
* Use of psychotropic medication
* Presence of magnetizable implants
* Alcohol or drug dependence
Inclusion Criteria (Patient):
* Written Informed Consent
* Diagnosed with mild to moderate depression
* Age between 20-40 or 60-75 years
* Fluent in German
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* No color blindness
Exclusion Criteria (Patient):
* Intake of benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medication
* psychiatric disorders other than depression (e.g., psychosis, mania, personality disorders) or depression with organic cause
* Presence of magnetizable implants
* Alcohol or drug dependence
Primary outcome measure(s)
Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes during task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) — During study visit; measured continuously during the 20-minute stimulation period Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes will be measured using ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a cognitive decision-making task designed to engage prefrontal cortex regions associated with cognitive control and decision making. Structural T1-weighted and T2-weighted images will also be acquired for anatomical localization and normalization. Primary regions of interest (ROIs) include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), amygdala, and hippocampus.
GABA concentration (baseline) — During study visit; during a 9-minute magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) session performed up to 10 minutes prior to the 20-minute stimulation period Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) will be used to measure Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in regions of interest at baseline. The goal is to examine stimulation-related neutransmitter changes.
GABA concentration (after stimulation) — During study visit; within 1 minute after the 20-minute stimulation period, during a 9-minute MRS scan Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) will be used to measure Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in regions of interest after HD-tDCS. The goal is to examine stimulation-related neutransmitter changes.
Glutamate concentration (baseline) — During study visit; during a 9-minute magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) session performed up to 10 minutes prior to the 20-minute stimulation period Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) will be used to measure Glutamate concentrations in regions of interest at baseline. The goal is to examine stimulation-related neutransmitter changes.
Glutamate concentration (after stimulation) — During study visit; within 1 minute after the 20-minute stimulation period, during a 9-minute MRS scan Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) will be used to measure Glutamate concentrations in regions of interest after HD-tDCS. The goal is to examine stimulation-related neutransmitter changes.
Trial sites (1)
Facility
City
Region
Status
University of Bern, Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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