Boosting and Mapping Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques (BoMAP NIBS)

February 19, 2026 updated by: Friedhelm Hummel, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Boosting and Mapping Non-invasive Brain Stimulation-induced Plasticity in Humans

In this study we applied TMS to the hand area of M1 whilst acquiring fMRI of the brain. This study tested whether a higher-frequency form of brain stimulation, called high-gamma (100Hz) intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), more effectively increases brain excitability than the standard 50Hz iTBS. In a double-blind, randomized study with 22 healthy participants, brain activity and motor responses were measured using TMS-fMRI. The 100Hz iTBS condition produced stronger and more consistent increases in motor excitability and greater activation of sensorimotor brain regions compared to 50Hz and sham stimulation, suggesting it may be a more effective approach for non-invasive neuromodulation.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study investigates whether a modified form of brain stimulation called high-gamma intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) can more effectively and consistently increase brain excitability compared to the standard iTBS protocol. iTBS is a non-invasive method that uses magnetic pulses to influence brain activity, but responses vary widely between people.

In this double-blind, randomized, within-subject study, 22 healthy adults completed three sessions of brain stimulation combined with functional MRI (TMS-fMRI). Each participant received conventional 50Hz iTBS, high-gamma 100Hz iTBS, and a sham (placebo) condition on separate visits. Changes in motor cortex excitability were measured using motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), and brain activity and connectivity were assessed using fMRI.

The results showed that 100Hz iTBS produced stronger and more reliable increases in cortical excitability compared to both the 50Hz and sham conditions. High-gamma iTBS also activated broader areas of the sensorimotor network and showed stronger links between stimulation strength and neural response. These findings suggest that high-gamma iTBS may be a more effective and physiologically relevant approach for non-invasive brain stimulation in humans.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

22

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Switzerland
    • Canton of Geneva
      • Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, 1202
        • Campus Biotech

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Right handed

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindications to either TMS or MRI:

Pregnant Metal implants Use of recreational drugs Neurological conditions History of seizures or epilepsy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 100Hz iTBS (intermittent theta burst protocol of rTMS)
The high-frequency of the stimulation is what distinguishes it from the other stimulation types and it is the goal of the study to see if this stimulation protocol is more effective than the classical protocol
Device: Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) as a protocol of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
iTBS applies a train of 3 pulses of stimulation, delivered at a gamma frequency, then repeated 10x at a theta repetition rate. Intensity of stimulation is personalized based on the individual's resting motor threshold, determined at the start of the session and delivered at 70% of this.
Other Names:
  • rTMS
  • iTBS
Active Comparator: 50Hz iTBS (intermittent theta burst protocol of rTMS)
The classical low-frequency protocol of stimulation, this one is being used to compare to the novel high-frequency protocol
Device: Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) as a protocol of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
iTBS applies a train of 3 pulses of stimulation, delivered at a gamma frequency, then repeated 10x at a theta repetition rate. Intensity of stimulation is personalized based on the individual's resting motor threshold, determined at the start of the session and delivered at 70% of this.
Other Names:
  • rTMS
  • iTBS
Sham Comparator: Sham iTBS (intermittent theta burst protocol of rTMS)
The sham stimulation was delivered with a 50Hz iTBS protocol except that the stimulation intensity was halved so as to retain the sensation of stimulation whilst not activating neurons
Device: Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) as a protocol of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
iTBS applies a train of 3 pulses of stimulation, delivered at a gamma frequency, then repeated 10x at a theta repetition rate. Intensity of stimulation is personalized based on the individual's resting motor threshold, determined at the start of the session and delivered at 70% of this.
Other Names:
  • rTMS
  • iTBS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Time Frame: Throughout the whole experiment, for a total of 26mins
fMRI of the brain and spinal chord were acquired during stimulation with single pulse TMS to elucidate the changes in BOLD activity occurring from the intervention.
Throughout the whole experiment, for a total of 26mins
Motor evoked potentials (MEPs)
Time Frame: MEPs are measured for 8mins immediately before intervention, then 15mins after intervention for a further 8mins.
When single pulses of TMS are applied to M1 hand region, MEPs are evoked in the corresponding hand muscle which can be measured with electromyography (EMG). The amplitude of the MEPs before and after the iTBS interventions are then measured and compared to determine the response to the iTBS, whether this is facilitation, suppression, or no change.
MEPs are measured for 8mins immediately before intervention, then 15mins after intervention for a further 8mins.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 2, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 12, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

April 12, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 19, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 19, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2021-01887

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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