The purpose of this study is to investigate whether transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) will engage reward-related brain circuitry, more specifically the uncinate fasciculus (UF) tract, which connects the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) regions. Also to evaluate whether the changes in the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the UF tract are associated with changes of clinical symptoms of anhedonia and finally to investigate the moderation role of simulated electric fields (EFs) in an association between FA of the UF and symptoms of anhedonia.
diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and clinically significant anhedonia
mild symptoms of depression
substance abuse/dependence and any use of drugs (except alcohol or nicotine) in the previous month of the baseline assessment
participants with personality disorder that would interfere with study participation according to clinical judgment
previous neurological conditions (epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, etc)
any severe, life-threatening non-psychiatric medical condition
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Lead sponsor
Milken Institute
Collaborator