Investigating how the brain perceives sound sources in healthy individuals
Modulation of Auditory Externalization Abilities by Transcranial Stimulation of the Brain Area Specifically Involved
NA · Hôpital le Vinatier · NCT05936307
This study is testing how the brain helps healthy people tell if sounds come from inside or outside their body, using brain scans and a special type of stimulation to see if it can change their perception of sound.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Hôpital le Vinatier (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Bron) |
| Trial ID | NCT05936307 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to explore the brain mechanisms involved in auditory externalization, which is the ability to distinguish whether sounds originate from within or outside oneself. Thirty healthy participants will undergo functional MRI scans while listening to sounds, allowing researchers to identify active brain regions associated with this ability. Following this, targeted neuromodulation using high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) will be applied to these regions to assess its impact on auditory externalization. Participants will experience both active and placebo stimulation in a counterbalanced manner while completing various tasks related to sound perception and reality monitoring.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy French-speaking adults without a history of psychiatric or neurological disorders.
Not a fit: Patients with psychiatric diagnoses, neurological disorders, or significant hearing issues are unlikely to benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to new therapeutic approaches for individuals with schizophrenia and related disorders by enhancing our understanding of auditory processing.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of using HD-tDCS for auditory externalization is novel, similar neuromodulation techniques have shown promise in other cognitive domains.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Having given their written informed consent * Affiliated with a social security scheme * French speakers and readers Exclusion Criteria: * With contraindication to HD-tDCS stimulation or fMRI * With a history of or current hearing problems, including tinnitus * Taking medication (except contraceptives) * With a history of or current psychiatric diagnosis (DSM-5 criteria) * First-degree relatives with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder (DSM5) * Have a personal history of neurological disorders or head trauma with loss of consciousness * With an intellectual disability (Raven's Matrices) * With developed musical abilities (i.e., regular practice of a musical instrument for at least 10 years with assiduity or at a music school or conservatory) * Pregnant or nursing * Being in a period of exclusion and/or having exceeded the annual indemnity ceiling (€4,500) for other clinical research. * Under guardianship
Where this trial is running
Bron
- Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier — Bron, France (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Marine MONDINO, Phd — hospital le Vinatier
- Study coordinator: Marine MONDINO, PhD
- Email: marine.mondino@ch-le-vinatier.fr
- Phone: 0437915565
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Healthy Participants, externalization, auditory processing, reality-monitoring, stimulation, HD-TDCS