Transcranial random noise stimulation and language task performance in healthy adults
Official title: Effect of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation on the Performance in Language Tasks
Run by University Hospital, Geneva · NCT07554105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This test sees if a mild, non-invasive scalp electrical stimulation called transcranial random noise stimulation can change how healthy young and older adults perform language tasks.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Geneva Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Geneva, Canton of Geneva) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 17, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07554105 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy, right-handed native French speakers aged 18–35 or 60–90 with normal or corrected vision and hearing and no history of neurological or psychiatric disease.
✕Probably not a fit
People with a history of epilepsy or severe migraine, active implants or metal in the head, pregnancy, major language disorders, or regular use of benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, or other psychoactive drugs are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Healthy, right-handed native French speakers in two age groups (18–35 and 60–90) will take part in a within-subject crossover protocol with two sessions about one week apart. In one session participants receive active transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over language-related brain areas and in the other they receive a sham (placebo) stimulation while performing language tasks. Task performance under active versus sham stimulation will be compared to determine whether tRNS alters language processing in healthy adults. Stimulation is noninvasive and applied following current safety guidelines for such protocols.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to a noninvasive way to modulate language processing and inform future treatments for language problems after brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using tRNS and other noninvasive brain stimulation techniques has reported mixed, often small effects on cognitive and language tasks, so findings are preliminary rather than established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age: 18-35 years or 60-90 years * Native French speakers * Right handed * Willing and able to provide informed consent * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing Exclusion Criteria: * History of neurological or psychiatric disease * Regular consumption of benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, or psychoactive drugs * Major language deficit, developmental language disorder, arthropathies and other mechanical language impairments * Inability to understand or follow study procedures * Contraindications to brain stimulation, such as * History of epilepsy or severe migraine * Pacemaker or other active implants * Metallic objects in the head * Skull breach such as craniotomy * Pregnancy
Where it's running
-
Division of Neurorehabilitation, University Hospital of Geneva
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Adrian Guggisberg, MD
- Email: adrian.guggisberg@hug.ch
- Phone: +41223723700
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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.