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Olfactory Transcranial Focused Ultrasound

Medical University of South Carolina · with National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) · NCT07658365

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–65 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
28
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
October 1, 2026
Record last updated
October 6, 2026

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

What the study is about

This study investigates the causal effects of low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) on odor valence perception and odor-elicited avoidance behaviors in healthy adults. Participants undergo sham and active tFUS targeting the amygdala (AMYG) and ventral striatal olfactory tubercle (VSOT) in a within-subject, randomized, sham-controlled crossover design. Outcomes include subjective odor ratings and objective neurophysiological and behavioral indices of odor valence processing. This research is exploratory and mechanistic in nature and is not intended to evaluate clinical safety or therapeutic efficacy.

Being studied: transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS)

Conditions: Healthy; Olfaction

Eligibility criteria

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

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18-65 years
  • Healthy adult volunteers
  • Normal olfactory function (Sniffin' Sticks total TDI ≥ 30.75)
  • Ability to provide informed consent
  • English fluency sufficient for task completion

Exclusion Criteria

  • MRI or tFUS contraindications (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy)
  • Sinonasal conditions affecting airflow or smell
  • Current use of medications that alter olfaction
  • Positive urine drug screen

Recruiting US locations

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    Charleston, SC 29425

    Site contact: Nicole Cash · 8437903449 · cashni@musc.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Nicole Cash, Study Coordinator · 843-790-3449 · cashni@musc.edu
All healthy volunteers studies in South Carolina →
Olfactory Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (NCT07658365) | Bored Studies