Healthy Clinical Trials in Charleston, SC

In this research study, the investigators are examining how brain activity (electrical and blood flow) changes during tests of emotional processing, attention and memory in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and outside the MRI using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Investigators are also using non-invasive brain stimulation to probe different parts of the brain and measuring brain activity (electrical and blood flow). Study 1 This study includes healthy participants and researchers hope this will help us develop improved brain-based treatments for emotional difficulties like depression. Study 2 This study includes participants with depression and researchers hope this will help us develop improved brain-based treatments for emotional difficulties like depression. Read Less

Sometimes, it is necessary to re-learn a previously learned movement behavior, for example, a bad posture during the golf drive or while playing the piano. Unlearning or relearning an intensively trained behavior is particularly important if the behavior is hampering recovery, for example, in chronic pain or after a stroke. With this pilot study, the brain mechanisms that control the change of pre-existing stable memories of a motor skill will be tested with electroencephalography (EEG). Non-invasive brain stimulation will be used to modulate these brain mechanisms and test if it is possible to change the pre-existing motor memory and the learning of a new motor skill. Read Less

The purposes of this research study is to: 1. Develop a technique of transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation (tFUS) where meaningful effects on the brain can be easily measured. 2. Use this technique to measure threshold for effective tFUS in individuals. 3. Determine whether disruption of conscious visual detection, versus non-conscious visually-guided behavior have different thresholds for disruption with tFUS. Read Less

The purposes of this research study are to investigate closed-loop and personalized focused ultrasound as a technique to study how the brain works and to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Attune ATTN201 device. This study will objectively assess brain parenchyma morphology, and neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological function, following Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS) exposure. Electroencephalographic recordings during parametric sweeps will be obtained for observation of changes in the brain network activity, primarily focused on the Central Medial Thalamus (CMT). The CMT maintains strong network connectivity to the cortex and plays a potent role in sleep induction. tFUS has recently emerged as a powerful tool for targeted deep brain neuromodulation and has, in theory, the ability to modulate the activity of the CMT without affecting overlying tissue. Read Less