Combined 40 Hz eTNS and multisensory stimulation on brain networks
Official title: A Study on the Enhancing Effects of 40 Hz Combined Trigeminal-Sensory Stimulation on Working Memory
Run by Xidian University · NCT07668167 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether 40 Hz electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve together with 40 Hz auditory and visual stimulation can change brain network connections in healthy adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Xidian University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Xi'an, Shaanxi) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 16, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 22, 2026 |
| Study ends | June 23, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07668167 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Healthy adults aged 18 or older who have normal or corrected vision and hearing, are right-handed, and provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with epilepsy history, neurological or psychiatric disorders, implanted electronic devices, skin issues at the stimulation site, pregnant individuals, or those on psychoactive substances may not benefit and are excluded.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In this within-subject study, 23 healthy adults will experience all eight combinations of 40 Hz auditory, visual, and external trigeminal nerve stimulation (including sham) in random order. Each stimulation condition lasts 5 minutes with 1-minute breaks, while continuous EEG records brain activity. The aim is to see if multimodal stimulation more effectively reorganizes large-scale brain networks than single-modality approaches, using measures of brain state dynamics and graph-theoretic network properties. The study targets the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve for the eTNS condition. Safety and feasibility are evaluated in healthy participants to understand potential mechanisms before any clinical application.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could clarify how multimodal sensory stimulation reshapes brain networks and lay groundwork for future cognitive or therapeutic applications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown gamma-range stimulation can entrain brain activity, but the additive effects of combining modalities on network topology are still being explored.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adults aged ≥18 years old. * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing (essential for 40Hz visual and auditory stimulation). * Right-handedness. * Willing to participate in the study and capable of providing written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Personal or family history of epilepsy or seizures (crucial safety criteria for 40Hz flicker and electrical stimulation). * History of any neurological or psychiatric disorders. * Presence of metallic implants in the head, cardiac pacemakers, or other implanted electronic medical devices. * Skin lesions, infections, or hypersensitivity at the eTNS stimulation site (maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve). * Current use of psychoactive medications or substances that may significantly alter EEG signals or brain state dynamics. * Pregnant or lactating individuals. * Poor sleep quality or irregular sleep-wake cycles prior to the experiment.
Where it's running
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Xidian University
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Xue-Juan Yang — Xidian University
- Study coordinator: Xue-Juan Yang, Phd
- Email: xjyang@xidian.edu.cn
- Phone: 86-029-81891070
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Short-Term outside-in nerve stimulation for acute ischemic stroke
This trial tests whether a 5-day external trigeminal nerve stimulation given after stroke can help more patients recover better than a sham treatment.
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Personalized TMS to Test Heart-Brain Linking in People with Depressive Tendencies
This study tests whether individualized TMS guided by each person’s brain connections can influence heart-brain coupling in adults with depressive symptoms.
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How different eTNS frequencies affect brain activity and autonomic function in healthy volunteers
This study tests whether two frequencies of transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation (2 Hz and 120 Hz) change brain activity and autonomic signals compared with a sham in healthy adults.
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Electrical nerve stimulation during sleep to boost memory in healthy young adults
This study tests whether applying mild electrical stimulation to the forehead during sleep can improve procedural and working memory in healthy college students.
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Testing how eTNS affects the brain: is it skin nerves or direct skull stimulation driving the effect?
This study tests whether transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation works mainly through skin nerves or by currents reaching the brain, in healthy volunteers using fMRI.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.