Can zapping the brain boost coping skills? new study explores
NCT ID NCT07433829
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed pilot study tested whether a type of brain stimulation called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) can temporarily change activity in the prefrontal cortex of 40 healthy adults. Participants received either real or sham stimulation, and researchers measured stress levels and coping strategies. The goal was to understand how brain stimulation might affect coping, which could inform future treatments for depression.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help researchers understand how brain stimulation changes brain activity and coping skills, potentially guiding future treatments for depression.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study in healthy people, not patients. It only measures immediate effects, so results may not apply to real-world mental health conditions.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
40 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-60 years old; Exclusion Criteria: * 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.
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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
-
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, 九龙, China
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