NCT07080489 Exploring the Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Decision-Making
| NCT ID | NCT07080489 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Bern |
| Condition | Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 444 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-03-04 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-07 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 444 participants in total. It began in 2025-03-04 with a primary completion date of 2027-07.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief 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 Criteria
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
Contact & Investigator
Jessica Peter, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Bern
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07080489 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 20 Years or older, up to 75 Years, studying Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07080489 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07080489 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at maya.yilmaz@unibe.ch for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07080489 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Bern, Switzerland.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07080489 clinical trial?
NCT07080489 is sponsored by University of Bern. The principal investigator is Jessica Peter, PhD at University of Bern. The trial plans to enroll 444 participants.