Synchronization of Theta to Influence Memory (STIM)

March 16, 2026 updated by: George Buzzell, PhD, Florida International University

Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Task Performance

This study aims to clarify relations between brain oscillations and two cognitive functions: cognitive control and memory.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33199
        • Recruiting
        • Florida International University
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years and older
  • Fluent in English
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
  • Willing to be photographed

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Must not have ever had an injury to the head that's caused you to be knocked out for a period of time (e.g., from a fall, blow to the head, road traffic accident).
  • Must not have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with your ability to see stimuli presented briefly on a computer screen or click a mouse button rapidly.
  • Must not have a history of epilepsy, convulsions, or seizures (except childhood febrile seizures).
  • Must not have a history of fainting or syncope.
  • For female participants, they must not be pregnant and/or must not think they might be pregnant.
  • Must not have skin problems like eczema, dermatitis, or open wounds on the scalp.
  • Must not have had prior brain surgery.
  • Must not have any metal located in the head/neck (except for dental fillings).
  • Must not have any devices or other implants located in/near their head. This includes cochlear implants and aneurysm clips, cardiac pacemaker, or any other implanted electronic device.
  • Must not have a current (active) alcohol or substance use disorder, must have no recent history of withdrawal symptoms, and must be able to safely abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed/illicit drugs for at least 24 hours before the session.
  • Must not have any alcohol on the day of the session, must limit alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks (if legally permitted) in the prior 24 hours, and must not use any non-prescribed or illicit drugs in the 24 hours before the session.
  • Must not be sick with a fever, sleep-deprived, or feel dizzy, unwell, or intoxicated.
  • Must also have eaten and had fluids but not have consumed more caffeine than they typically consume.
  • Must not be taking anticonvulsant/anti-epileptic drugs or have ever taken them within their lifetime.
  • Must not be taking benzodiazepines or have taken them within the past 3 months.
  • Must not have had a recent change (start, stop, dose change) for any psychiatric/psychotropic medications within the past 3 months.
  • Must not be taking Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, etc.), Antipsychotics (clozapine; chlorpromazine, haloperidol, etc.), or Tramadol or have taken them within the past 3 months.
  • Must not have experienced cardiac problems, fibrillation, or have taken medications associated with cardiac conditions within the past 3 months.
  • Must not meet the diagnostic threshold for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, or Psychotic Disorders.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham Stimulation
Participants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment.
Device: Sham device
Intervention which uses an inactive form of stimulation via electrodes on the scalp.
Experimental: STARSTIM device treatment (in-phase theta)
Participants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment.
Device: STARSTIM Device in-phase
Intervention that uses the Starstim tES device to introduce transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the form of in-phase theta (~3.5 to ~7.5 Hz) via electrodes on the scalp.
Experimental: STARSTIM device treatment (anti-phase stimulation)
Participants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment.
Device: STARSTIM Device anti-phase
Intervention that uses the Starstim tES device to introduce transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the form of anti-phase stimulation via electrodes on the scalp.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Difference Between Incidental Memory of Faces on Error versus Correct Trials from Baseline to Post Brain Stimulation
Time Frame: Baseline through study visit completion, a maximum of 3 hours
The hit rate for faces that appeared on error trials minus the hit rate for faces that appeared on correct trials.
Baseline through study visit completion, a maximum of 3 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Florida International University

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 (Actual)

March 13, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2031

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 16, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB-25-0555

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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