Modulating brain activity to improve working memory
State-dependent Modulation of Interactions of Theta and Gamma Rhythms in Working Memory
NA · Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT05923606
This study is testing if a type of brain stimulation can help healthy adults improve their working memory while they complete a memory task.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 32 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Charlestown, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT05923606 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on brain oscillations related to working memory in healthy adults. Participants will perform a spatial working memory task while their brain activity is recorded using electroencephalography (EEG). They will undergo four different tACS sessions, including active and placebo conditions, to assess how varying stimulation protocols influence their cognitive performance. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying working memory.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults who are fluent in English and can provide informed consent.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of neurological or psychiatric disorders or those currently using certain medications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to new noninvasive methods for enhancing working memory in individuals.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies using tACS have shown promising results in modulating cognitive functions, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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)
Where this trial is running
Charlestown, Massachusetts
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging — Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hamdi Eryilmaz, Ph.D. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Allyson Smith, B.S.
- Email: asmith192@mgh.harvard.edu
- Phone: (617) 726-1040
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: Working Memory, Working memory, Attention, Theta oscillations, Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation