Efficacy and Mechanisms of TUS on Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia: Based on the Hippocampal-Prefrontal Circuit

June 10, 2026 updated by: Shanghai Mental Health Center

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) on Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia：Based on the Hippocampal-Prefrontal Circuit

Cognitive deficit is a core symptom of schizophrenia related to poorer functional outcome. Prior studies indicated that abnormalities in the hippocampus-prefrontal circuit and glutamate/GABA imbalances may lead to cognitive deficits. Based on the current background and our previous studies, it has been proved that TUS can modulate neural excitability and plasticity in the hippocampus. In this double-blind, randomized study, the efficacy of different treatment options and mechanisms of TUS on cognitive deficits will be investigated.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Cognitive deficit is a core symptom of schizophrenia related to poorer functional outcome which remains largely treatment refractory. Prior studies indicated that abnormalities in the hippocampus-prefrontal circuit and glutamate/GABA imbalances may be the root causes of cognitive deficits. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique with deep penetration ability, can modulate neural excitability and plasticity in the hippocampus. This is a 4-week double-blind randomized trial of TUS for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, with either left hippocampus or left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or both targeted. This study aims to determine the efficacy of TUS and to reveal its underlying neural mechanism, especially with the hippocampus-prefrontal circuit, by means of TUS, as to assess cortical inhibition and excitability, EEG source imaging, and multi-model MRI. Neuropsychological assessments will also be conducted to develop the optimized treatment strategy. The study points to a novel and promising therapeutic neuromodulation approach that may improve the functional outcome of schizophrenia, which has been the main cause of mental disability.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
140

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200030

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia ;
  • Age18-50, right-handed, Han nationality;
  • Presence of cognitive deficit: defined as d' value <0.5 in associative memory test;
  • Be in a stable condition, received second-generation antipsychotics for at least 4 weeks or more;
  • Written informed consent;

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or past neurological illness, severe physical diseases, substance abuse or alcohol dependence, mental retardation, pregnancy or lactation;
  • Uncooperative or risky patients with high excitement, stupor, disorder of words and deeds, negative suicide, etc.;
  • History of MECT or other physical therapy within 6 months;
  • History of epilepsy, or epileptic waves on the baseline EEG;
  • Ruled out share antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, valproic acid salt) or larger doses of benzodiazepine drugs (diazepam > 10mg/day, clonazepam > 2mg/day etc.), if necessary, remain unchanged during the course of treatment;
  • Contraindications to TUS and MRI are present.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: both-target group : left DLPFC and left hippocampus
35 eligible patients will be treated with active TUS for 4 weeks on the left DLPFC and left hippocampus
Device: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
The TUS was administered using Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulator UNS-III (model UNS-III), which has passed the safety test for medical electrical equipment (GB9706.1-2007). Transcranial ultrasound stimulation on the target. Duration:20 days (workdays for four consecutive weeks).
Active Comparator: single target group : left DLPFC
35 eligible patients will be treated with active TUS on the left DLPFC and sham TUS on the left hippocampus for 4 weeks
Device: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
The TUS was administered using Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulator UNS-III (model UNS-III), which has passed the safety test for medical electrical equipment (GB9706.1-2007). Transcranial ultrasound stimulation on the target. Duration:20 days (workdays for four consecutive weeks).
Active Comparator: single target group : left hippocampus
35 eligible patients will be treated with active TUS on the left hippocampus and sham TUS on the left DLPFC for 4 weeks
Device: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
The TUS was administered using Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulator UNS-III (model UNS-III), which has passed the safety test for medical electrical equipment (GB9706.1-2007). Transcranial ultrasound stimulation on the target. Duration:20 days (workdays for four consecutive weeks).
Sham Comparator: sham TUS group
35 eligible patients will be treated with sham TUS for 4 weeks on the left DLPFC and left hippocampus
Device: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
The TUS was administered using Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulator UNS-III (model UNS-III), which has passed the safety test for medical electrical equipment (GB9706.1-2007). Transcranial ultrasound stimulation on the target. Duration:20 days (workdays for four consecutive weeks).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in associative memory test score
Time Frame: baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change from baseline in the associative memory test score at 4 weeks and 8 weeks.
baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)
Time Frame: baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The minimum to maximum value is 30-210. Lower scores mean a better outcome.
baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change of Multi-modal Brain Neuroimaging in structure
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
Brain structure data will be acquired.
baseline and 4 weeks
Change of Multi-modal Brain Neuroimaging in resting- state fMRI
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
Resting-state fMRI data will be acquired.
baseline and 4 weeks
Change of Multi-modal Brain Neuroimaging in 1H-MRS
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
1H-MRS data will be acquired.
baseline and 4 weeks
Change of information processing speed and attention/vigilance
Time Frame: baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change from baseline in 4 MCCB subtests score at 4 weeks and 8 weeks.
baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change of working memory
Time Frame: baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change from baseline in N-back task at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The outcome measures include accuracy, D-prime value, and reaction time.
baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change of CGI score
Time Frame: baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change from baseline in Clinical Global Impression (CGI) at 4 weeks and 8 weeks.
baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change of 64 channels EEG
Time Frame: baseline and 4 weeks
64 channels EEG data will be acquired.
baseline and 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Shanghai Mental Health Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 25, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 25, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 1, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 82371504

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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