Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Two Cerebellar Targets (StimCervelet)
April 27, 2026 updated by: University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Two Cerebellar Targets (Lobule VIII vs. CRUS I/II)
The purpose of this study is to understand how different areas of the cerebellum (a part of the brain) control different functions and how they can be influenced by non-invasive brain stimulation.
While researchers know that repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can have positive effects on conditions like stroke and schizophrenia, they do not yet fully understand which specific stimulation settings work best or which exact parts of the cerebellum should be targeted for different symptoms.
This study compares the effects of stimulation on two specific regions:
- Lobule VIII: Linked to movement and motor learning.
- CRUS I/II: Linked to attention, thinking (cognition), and predicting the timing of events.By comparing these areas, researchers hope to gain the information needed to develop better treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
This is a randomized, double-blind study involving 40 healthy volunteers. Participants will be split into two groups:
- Group 1: Receives "exciting" (activity-increasing) stimulation.
- Group 2: Receives "inhibiting" (activity-decreasing) stimulation.
Each participant will attend three different test sessions in a random order:
- rTMS targeting Lobule VIII
- rTMS targeting CRUS I/II
- Placebo (Sham) stimulation that looks and feels like the real thing but does not affect the brain.
During each session, researchers will use brain imaging (fMRI) and computerized tasks to measure changes in brain connectivity and performance in motor and cognitive activities.
There is no direct medical benefit to the participants. However, the results will help scientists create better therapies for patients with brain-related health issues The risks are considered minimal. Common side effects of rTMS include temporary mild headaches or a clicking sound during stimulation. MRI scans can sometimes cause mild discomfort or a feeling of closed-in spaces (claustrophobia). Researchers have put safety measures in place, such as hearing protection and constant medical supervision during scans, to minimize these risks.
Study Overview
Status
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
40
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 Contact
- Name: Anne GIERSCH
- Phone Number: +33 +33(0)3 88 11 64 71
- Email: giersch@unistra.fr
Study Locations
-
-
-
Strasbourg, France, 67091
- Hopitaux universitaires de Strasbourg
-
Contact:
- Anne GIERSCH
- Phone Number: +33 +33(0)3 88 11 64 71
- Email: giersch@unistra.fr
-
-
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:
- Subject, male or female, aged between 18 and 60 years inclusive
- Subject affiliated with or a beneficiary of a social security health insurance scheme
- Subject has dated and signed the informed consent form prior to the start of any trial-related procedures
- For women of childbearing potential, a negative urinary pregnancy test and the use of effective contraception throughout the duration of the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subject with substance use disorders (as defined by the DSM-5)
- Subject having taken benzodiazepines and related compounds (within the period preceding inclusion, for a duration equivalent to 5 half-lives of the product), cannabis (within the 2 months preceding inclusion), or hallucinogenic substances (within the period preceding inclusion, for a duration equivalent to 5 half-lives of the product)
- Subject suffering from a neurological pathology or sequelae
- Subject with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Subject with Borderline Personality Disorder
- Subject presenting with disabling sensory impairments, specifically a visual acuity (corrected, if applicable) < 0.8 (due to the use of visual materials; Freiburg Vision Test, Bach 1996; verified during an examination at the screening visit)
- Subject deprived of liberty or under legal protection
- Subject under guardianship or trusteeship
- Pregnant or breastfeeding woman (verified by a urinary test at the screening visit)
- Subject within an exclusion period defined by another clinical study or participating in a study likely to impact the results of the research
- Subject presenting a contraindication for fMRI or rTMS: presence of non-removable ferromagnetic bodies, prostheses, pacemakers, implanted medication pumps, vascular clips or stents, heart valves or ventricular shunts, certain intracerebral clips, cochlear implants, history of seizures (epilepsy), or skin breach/pathology at the point of contact with the electrodes
- Subject with a history of major neurological or psychiatric disease with current psychotropic medication (i.e., antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and related compounds, or hypnotics)
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: Triple
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: 1 - Lobule VIII - Crus I/II - Sham Sequence - Excitatory
Participants receive active rTMS to Lobule VIII in the first session, followed by active rTMS to Crus I/II in the second, and Sham stimulation in the third.
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 2 - Lobule VIII - Sham - Crus I/II Sequence - Excitatory
Participants receive active rTMS to Lobule VIII, followed by Sham stimulation, and finally active rTMS to Crus I/II.
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 3 - Crus I/II - Lobule VIII - Sham Sequence - Excitatory
Participants receive active rTMS to Crus I/II, followed by active rTMS to Lobule VIII, and finally Sham stimulation.
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 4 - Crus I/II - Sham - Lobule VIII Sequence - Excitatory
Participants receive active rTMS to Crus I/II, followed by Sham stimulation, and finally active rTMS to Lobule VIII.
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 5 - Sham - Lobule VIII - Crus I/II Sequence - Excitatory
Participants receive Sham stimulation first, followed by active rTMS to Lobule VIII and active rTMS to Crus I/II.
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 6 - Sham - Crus I/II - Lobule VIII Sequence - Excitatory
Participants receive Sham stimulation first, followed by active rTMS to Crus I/II and active rTMS to Lobule VIII
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 1 - Lobule VIII - Crus I/II - Sham Sequence - inhibitory
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 2 - Lobule VIII - Sham - Crus I/II Sequence - inhibitory
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 3 - Crus I/II - Lobule VIII - Sham Sequence - inhibitory
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 4 - Crus I/II - Sham - Lobule VIII Sequence - Inhibitory
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 5 - Sham - Lobule VIII - Crus I/II Sequence - Inhibitory
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
|
Experimental: 6 - Sham - Crus I/II - Lobule VIII Sequence - Inhibitory
|
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
Participants receive rTMS targeting the Crus I/II of the cerebellum.
Either excitatory (e.g., iTBS) or inhibitory (e.g., cTBS) depending on the assigned group.
The coil looks and sounds identical to the active coil and is placed in the same positions (counterbalanced between Lobule VIII and Crus I/II sites).
It provides the physical sensation and auditory "click" of TMS without delivering a significant magnetic field to the brain tissue, maintaining the study's double-blind integrity.
Other Names:
Participants perform three computerized tasks to evaluate the functional impact of the rTMS:
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Resting-State Functional Connectivity (RSFC) Measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI, expressed as Fisher's z-transformed correlation coefficients) within Cerebellar-Thalamo-Frontal and Cerebellar-Parieto-Motor Networks.
Time Frame: Baseline (Pre-stimulation) and 1-hour post-stimulation
|
Functional imaging data will be pre-processed according to standard procedures: slice-timing correction, intra-run spatial realignement, inter-run realignement, distortion and motion artifact correction, band-pass filtering to remove physiological noise, and normalization into the MNI common space, followed by smoothing using FSL and SPM12 software.Subsequently, the signal within the networks of interest will be extracted using the "Conn" toolbox and compared using a General Linear Model (GLM).
Connectivity maps will be generated from specific "seed" regions of interest (Crus I/II and lobule VIII), where each voxel value corresponds to the correlation with the seed region.
|
Baseline (Pre-stimulation) and 1-hour post-stimulation
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Collaborators
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 (Estimated)
September 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
January 2, 2030
Study Completion (Estimated)
January 2, 2030
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
April 17, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
April 27, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
May 1, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
May 1, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
April 27, 2026
Last Verified
April 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Other Study ID Numbers
- RC26_0179
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
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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