Award
NIH Reporter #5R01MH132740-03
A mechanistic trial of the neurobiology of extinction learning and intraparietal sulcus stimulation
Recipient
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Award Amount
$777,889.00
Ceiling
$777,889.00
Awarded
November 28, 2025
Identifier
5R01MH132740-03
The award funds a clinical trial investigating the effects of continuous theta burst stimulation to the intraparietal sulcus on arousal symptoms in PTSD patients, aiming to reduce arousal and improve extinction learning retention.
Description
This study will be the first of its kind to explore the impact of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) on arousal symptoms among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It aims to demonstrate that IPS cTBS results in significant reduction in arousal (measured by startle response), interacts with extinction training to further improve arousal, and has a dose/response effect on arousal. The study will also evaluate the retention of extinction learning and neural mechanisms involved.