Modulation of Brain Oscillations Underlying Working Memory

NCT ID: NCT05923606

Last Updated: 2026-02-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

32 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-07-10

Study Completion Date

2027-03-31

Brief Summary

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This study will use novel transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) protocols and electroencephalography (EEG) to modulate and measure brain oscillations that underlie working memory. tACS is a noninvasive method used to modulate the timing and patterns of brain rhythms via weak electric currents passed through electrodes on the scalp.

Detailed Description

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In this study, healthy adult individuals will perform a spatial working memory task as investigators record scalp EEG before and immediately after undergoing transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Each participant will complete four tACS sessions in randomized order: 1) theta-nested gamma tACS applied during active task periods, 2) theta-nested gamma tACS applied during passive (rest) periods, 3) gamma stimulation applied in phase with ongoing theta oscillations, and 4) placebo tACS. The different stimulation protocols will take place on different days. Therefore, participants will be expected to attend 4 in-person study visits at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Conditions

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Working Memory

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Theta-nested gamma tACS applied during passive task epochs

Participants will receive single-session administration of tACS during performance of a working memory task. tACS will be applied during fixation periods between consecutive task trials. EEG will be acquired before and immediately after the intervention.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active tACS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tACS will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for approximately 25 minutes.

Theta-nested gamma tACS applied during memory delays

Participants will receive single-session administration of tACS during performance of a working memory task. tACS will be applied during memory delays. EEG will be acquired before and immediately after the intervention.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active tACS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tACS will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for approximately 25 minutes.

Gamma tACS applied during memory delays

Participants will receive single-session administration of tACS during performance of a working memory task. tACS will be applied during memory delays. The stimulation will be phase locked to the peaks of ongoing theta rhythms of the participant. EEG will be acquired before and immediately after the intervention.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active tACS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tACS will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for approximately 25 minutes.

Placebo tACS applied during task performance

Participants will receive single-session administration of placebo tACS during performance of a working memory task. EEG will be acquired before and immediately after the intervention.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo tACS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo tACS will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for approximately 25 minutes.

Interventions

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Active tACS

Active tACS will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for approximately 25 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo tACS

Placebo tACS will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for approximately 25 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Able to provide informed consent
* Fluent in English.

Exclusion Criteria

* History of a neurological/psychiatric disorder
* Current use of psychotropic medications
* Current use of substances and drugs that were shown to affect tES (transcranial electrical stimulation) efficacy (dopamine altering drugs, nicotine, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) antagonists/agonists, sodium/calcium channel blockers, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, GABAergic modulators and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
* Contraindications for tACS (e.g., history of seizures, metallic implants in the head or neck, implanted brain stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, pacemakers, pregnancy)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hamdi Eryilmaz, PhD

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hamdi Eryilmaz, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Locations

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Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Allyson Smith, B.S.

Role: CONTACT

(617) 726-1040

Hamdi Eryilmaz, Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

(617) 643-7462

Facility Contacts

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Alexandra O'Neill, B.S.

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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2023P001479

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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