Mitigating the Disinhibiting Effects of Alcohol With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Alcohol Risk Behaviors

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how a specific type of brain stimulation affects alcohol-related decision-making and self-control in adults who drink alcohol. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Does brain stimulation change how people behave after drinking alcohol? * Does the combination of alcohol and different types of brain stimulation affect people's ability to make thoughtful decisions or resist impulses? Researchers will compare the effects of two types of brain stimulation, intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) and continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS), after people drink alcohol or a placebo drink. A sham (placebo) stimulation condition will also be included. The study uses a within-person design, which means each participant will take part in all conditions. Participants will: * Attend five separate study visits * Drink either an alcoholic or placebo beverage * Receive one of the brain stimulation conditions (real or sham) * Complete decision-making tasks before and after drinking The tasks will measure things like impulsive choices and reaction time. The researchers hope this study will help identify how brain stimulation could be used to improve decision-making during intoxication, which might one day reduce harmful drinking behaviors or prevent alcohol-related accidents.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07188376

Run by

Michael J. Wesley, PhD

People needed

12

Starts

2025-10-30

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-11-05

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 29. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 21-29
• Must be competent in English
• BMI between 19 and 26
• At least a high school education
• Moderate alcohol users (e.g., at least occasional alcohol use, without meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder)
• Negative urine drug screen for illicit drugs
• Negative urine pregnancy test (if applicable) on testing days

You may not qualify if…

• History of seizures or a first-degree relative with seizure history
• History of head trauma or other CNS injuries
• Current or past psychiatric disorders (including substance use disorder, except nicotine or caffeine)
• Contraindications for non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., metal implants, pacemaker)
• Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• Current use of medications that lower seizure threshold
• Positive alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Smokes more than five cigarettes per day (to avoid acute nicotine effects or withdrawal during visits)

Where it is running

• University of Kentucky — Lexington, Kentucky, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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