tDCS targeting the brain's motion-processing pathway (MT+) to improve emotion recognition

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized, blinded, parallel-group study tests personalized, MR-guided cathodal high-definition tDCS (pHD-tDCS) applied to the motion-sensitive middle temporal complex (MT+) to try to reverse motion-processing and social cognitive deficits in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. One hundred twenty participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder will be randomized to active or sham stimulation and compared with 30 healthy controls evaluated cross-sectionally. Participants undergo baseline clinical and cognitive testing, fMRI and EEG/ERP while viewing moving dot and dynamic face stimuli, followed by a blinded intervention with individualized electrode targeting. Primary outcomes include changes in MT+, pSTS and mSTS activation and fractional occupancy of a TVP-related CAP state, with behavioral measures of motion discrimination, dynamic face emotion recognition, and TASIT sarcasm scores.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female subject, age 18-55
2. Competent and willing to sign informed consent
3. No more than moderately ill
4. SCID DSM-5 diagnosis of Sz/SzAff
5. WAIS IQ \>70
6. Does not meet current criteria for DSM-5 defined substance abuse or dependence or have a history of diagnosis within past 6 months
7. On medication within clinically approved range
8. Does not meet criteria for another DSM-5 disorder other than those judged to be minor (e.g. simple phobia)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Significant neurological illness or history of significant head trauma
2. Unstable physical illness or significant auditory/visual deficits that might interfer
3. Contraindication to MRI (e.g. metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy)
4. Contraindications to tDCS including metal implant, pacemaker, history of seizure, traumatic brain injury or stroke
5. Significant risk for suicide
6. Has a history of an illness, disease, condition injury, or disability which, in the opinion of the principal investigator, may interfere with the completion of all study requirements per protocol, impact the quality of the data, or the validity of the study results, including unstable physical illness, significant neurological illness, significant head trauma
7. Moderate or greater DSM-5 current substance use disorder, defined based on the presence of 4 or more of 11 substance use criteria within the past 12 months. In addition, individuals for whom substance use leads to not being able to perform work, home or school activities

Where it's running

• Nathan Kline Institute
  Orangeburg, New York, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Daniel C Javitt, MD, PhD — Nathan Kline Institute
• Study coordinator: Odeta Beggel, MA
• Email: odeta.beggel@nki.rfmh.org
• Phone: 845-398-2897

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• See if an early-detection program reduces time to treatment for first-episode psychosis

  We test whether a large, region-wide early-detection program can shorten the time from first psychotic symptoms to treatment and help people function better later.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital · Copenhagen, Denmark and 1 other locations · NCT07716969

• Cognitive Tasks and Models in a Large Online Sample

  This study tests cognitive tasks and computational models in a large online group to see if these tools can help predict symptoms like hallucinations and delusions in the general population.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Washington University School of Medicine · Minneapolis, Minnesota and 1 other locations · NCT07900893

• Can seven tasks help distinguish schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder from healthy people

  The study tests seven cognitive tasks to see if they can tell apart people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from healthy adults and predict symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.

  Recruiting at 5 sites Washington University School of Medicine · Irvine, California and 4 other locations · NCT07853807

• SEEG-guided DBS for Schizophrenia

  This study tests whether SEEG-guided deep brain stimulation can help people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia see if symptoms improve.

  Recruiting Ruijin Hospital · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT07671261

• Testing low‑intensity pulsed ultrasound for schizophrenia symptoms

  We’re testing whether non-invasive, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to the hippocampus is safe and feasible for people with schizophrenia.

  Recruiting Far Eastern Memorial Hospital · New Taipei City · NCT07621549

• Gamma brain-feedback to boost working memory in schizophrenia

  This trial tests whether real-time gamma EEG neurofeedback helps people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder improve working memory.

  Recruiting Phase 2 University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, California · NCT07592169

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.