Brain scans reveal Stress's hidden impact
NCT ID NCT05591404
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study looks at how experiencing social stress changes brain activity in healthy adults. Fifty participants will either undergo a stressful public speaking and math task or a calm activity before having their brains scanned with fMRI. The goal is to see if stress alters brain activation patterns, which could help scientists better understand stress-related conditions.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Trier Social Stress Test (a public speaking and mental arithmetic task)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help researchers understand how stress changes brain activity, which may inform future treatments for stress-related disorders.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, so results may not apply to people with mental health conditions. The stress test may cause temporary discomfort.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, United States
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