Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Substance Use

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Substance Use

The will investigate the feasibility and effectiveness and initial efficacy of non-invasive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on distress tolerance and inhibitory control among treatment seeking substance users.

Disruptions in inhibitory control (IC) and distress tolerance (DT) are implicated in the development and maintenance of substance use disorders. Findings suggest that differential DLPFC engagement during affective and cognitive processing, and in particular, distress tolerance, in substance use disorder may be malleable, providing a promising intervention. Modulating neural oscillations with non-invasive, safe brain stimulation by targeting regions such as the DLPFC may provide an avenue to improve distress tolerance and inhibitory control in SUD. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) may be a particularly promising approach as it is a safe and non-invasive method of electric stimulation that has the potential to effectively modulate neural network and circuit dynamics, more closely aligning with a network-based conceptualization of affective and cognitive processesThis study will test the effects of tACS on distress tolerance and inhibitory control among treatment-seeking adults with substance use disorder.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) Substance Use Disorder
• Current smoker
• Abstinent from all substances (except nicotine) for at least the past 2 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of antiepileptic drugs and/or benzodiazepines
• Less than 6 months since an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) session
• Current DSM-V Psychotic Disorder
• Pregnancy and/or nursing
• Ongoing or history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), reoccurring seizures, stroke, or brain tumors
• Medical or neurological illness
• Brain devices and/or implants