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Intracranial Neurophysiological Signatures of Fear and Anxiety in Humans

Duke University · with National Institutes of Health (NIH), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NCT05120635

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Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–70 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
80
US sites recruiting
2
Study start
October 1, 2021
Record last updated
August 31, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affect a large number of individuals with a significant portion of patients failing to improve with current treatments.

The purpose of this study is to understand the brain mechanisms that produce fear and anxiety in humans. To accomplish this goal, we will measure the brain activity along with the heart rate and skin perspiration of patients while they are completing tasks on a computer. Some of the tasks will also use a virtual reality headset and transport the patient in a video game-like environment. These tasks will expose the participants to various levels of fear-provoking images. Participants with responsive neurostimulation (RNS) implants will be enrolled under Pro00117931 at Duke, but their results for fear and anxiety tasks will be reported under NCT05120635.

Being studied: Deep Brain Stimulation; Virtual and augmented reality tasks

Conditions: Fear; GAD; Emotional Memory; PTSD

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Has undergone acute depth or chronic responsive neurostimulation (RNS) electrode placement
  • Willing to provide informed consent and participate in the study
  • Ability to read and write English fluently

Exclusion Criteria

  • Unwilling to provide informed consent
  • Has not undergone acute depth or chronic responsive neurostimulation (RNS) electrode placement
  • Pregnant women
  • Participants with active psychosis
  • Participants with suicidal ideation
  • Participants with substance abuse issues

Recruiting US locations

  • University of California Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, CA 90024

    Site contact: Sonja Hiller · 9196812577 · suthanalab@mednet.ucla.edu

  • Duke University Health System

    Durham, NC 27705

    Site contact: Gabriela Vilchez · 9196812577 · suthanalab@duke.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Aaron Halvorsen, PhD · 9196812577 · suthanalab@duke.edu
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Intracranial Neurophysiological Signatures of Fear and Anxiety in… (NCT05120635) | Bored Studies