Negar Fani, PhD and Michael Treadway, PhD, Principal Investigators
Non-invasive brain stimulation: targeting attention and emotion processing.
Temporal Interference (TI) is an exciting new method for non-invasive stimulation of the brain, including deep brain structures such as the amygdala. This method can be used to enhance cognitive and emotional processing. For many years, deep brain stimulation has helped clinicians treat patients with a variety of conditions ranging from depression to Parkinson’s Disease, but the majority of research and clinical applications have used invasive deep brain stimulation, using electrodes implanted in the brain. Using converging electromagnetic waves delivered through electrodes placed on the scalp, Temporal Inference is a non-invasive deep brain stimulation method that has the capability to painlessly activate brain regions that are involved with cognitive and emotional processes, including attention and emotion regulation. The goal of this study is to identify ways in which TI can be used to modulate to cognitive processes, such as attention and decision-making, in both neutral and emotional contexts.
What are we studying?
Our objective is to examine whether Temporal Interference applied to brain areas involved with emotion processing, attention and effort-based decision-making can influence performance on related tasks. The knowledge we gain from this study will not only help to further our understanding of these processes, but also help to inform future therapeutic interventions for individuals suffering from psychiatric conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
What is involved in this study?
Participation in our study will consist of a single session in which you will receive Temporal Interference brain stimulation while completing a series of decision-making and attentional control tasks. The session will last approximately 2 to 4 hours while you complete a series of questionnaires and computer-based tasks.
Who is eligible?
We are currently looking for right-handed adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age with no history of psychiatric illness, seizure, or an immediate family member with a history of seizure. If you are interested, please send an email expressing your interest to emorybrainstimulation@emory.edu and a team member will contact you shortly.
