Transcranial magnetic stimulation for adult stuttering
Official title: Modulating Bilateral Cortical Activation In Adults Who Stutter: A Pilot Study
Run by Kansas State University · NCT07389694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will test whether repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to a language-related brain area can reduce stuttering in adults who stutter.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Kansas State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Manhattan, Kansas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 15, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 15, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 15, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07389694 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–65 who self-identify as currently stuttering, are monolingual English speakers with normal or corrected hearing and vision, and who have no contraindications to MRI or TMS are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with epilepsy or seizure history, prior neurosurgery or structural brain lesions, metallic implants or other MRI/TMS contraindications, significant medical or psychiatric disorders, non-English speakers, or those outside the 18–65 age range are unlikely to benefit or will be excluded.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants will receive structural MRI and resting-state fMRI for neuronavigation, then complete 10 rTMS sessions targeting the left inferior frontal gyrus guided by each participant's MRI. rTMS will be delivered at 10 Hz for 10 minutes per session at 120% of resting motor threshold. Three pre-treatment visits and two post-treatment visits will collect resting-state EEG, eye-tracking during phonological tasks, and spontaneous speech samples to measure percent syllables stuttered. The protocol compares brain and behavioral measures before and after the rTMS course to see if neural changes accompany reduced stuttering.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could reduce the frequency of stuttered syllables and improve everyday speaking fluency for adults who stutter.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is relatively novel for stuttering: small pilot studies and case reports show mixed but sometimes promising results, while larger controlled trials remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age from 18 to 65 years * Self-identifies as a person who currently stutters * Right-handed or left-handed * Normal hearing and (corrected) vision * Able to understand and give informed consent * Monolingual English speaker Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires; neurostimulators; implanted pumps * Metal in the body (rods, plates, screws, shrapnel, dentures, IUD) or metallic particles in the eye * Facial tattoos * Not having medical insurance * Surgical clips in the head or previous neurosurgery * Any magnetic particles in the body * Cochlear implants * Prosthetic heart valves * Epilepsy or any other type of seizure history * History of significant head trauma (i.e., extended loss of consciousness, neurological sequelae) * Known structural brain lesions * Pre-existing speech, language, or neurological disorder (except for stuttering) * Significant other disease (heart disease, malignant tumors, mental disorders) * Significant claustrophobia; Ménière's disease * Women who are trying to get pregnant and sexually active women (of reproductive age) not on a reliable contraceptive * Pregnancy, breastfeeding * Medications increasing the risk for seizures * Non-prescribed drug use * Use of recreational drugs such as medical marijuana * Failure to perform the behavioral tasks or neuropsychological evaluation tests * Prisoners
Where it's running
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Bluemont Hall, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kristin Pelczarski, Ph.D. — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Kristin Pelczarski, Ph.D.
- Email: kpelczar@ksu.edu
- Phone: 785-532-6879
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Lumateperone for childhood-onset stuttering in adults
A small study tests whether lumateperone can help reduce stuttering in adults who began stuttering in childhood.
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Aripiprazole and sensorimotor function in adults who stutter
We will test whether a single 10 mg dose of aripiprazole versus placebo changes speech sensorimotor processing and improves fluency in adults who stutter.
-
Motor brain circuits for speech production in adults who stutter
We will use MRI while adults who stutter speak to test how motor brain areas and their connections work during continuous speech.
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Delta-frequency alternating-current brain stimulation paired with choral reading for stuttering
This project will try mild, noninvasive alternating-current brain stimulation (tACS) paired with choral reading to see if it reduces stuttering in English-speaking children and adults who currently stutter.
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Exploring the nature and treatment of stuttering
This study is testing new ways to treat stuttering by looking at the different factors that affect it in both one-language and multiple-language speakers.
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.