Frequency- and Intensity-Dependent After-Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Resting-State Electroencephalography
August 29, 2026 updated by: Haifeng Jiang, Shanghai Mental Health Center
Frequency- and Intensity-Dependent After-Effects of High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Resting-State Electroencephalography in Patients With Auditory Hallucinations and Healthy Controls
This study aims to investigate the after-effects of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) with varying parameters on resting-state brain activity in patients with schizophrenia experiencing auditory hallucinations.
Study Overview
Status
Completed
Conditions
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Actual)
36
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
-
-
-
Fuyang, China
- Fuyang Mental Heath Center
-
-
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
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 to 65 years;
- Meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5);
- Adequate verbal communication skills;
- At least one auditory hallucination episode within the past week;
- Willing to participate in the study and able to complete all trial procedures.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of neurological disorders, severe physical illness, traumatic brain injury, or craniotomy;
- History of epileptic seizures or other neuropsychiatric disorders;
- At risk for suicide, self-injury, or impulsive behavior.
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: Crossover Assignment
- Masking: Double
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS
For 0.4mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS
For 0.4mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 20 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS
For 0.4mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 20 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS
For 0.4mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS
For 1mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS
For 1mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS
For 1mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS
For 1mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS
For 2mA-10Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS
For 2mA-20Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS
For 2mA-40Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS
For 2mA-140Hz HD-tACS prevention, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel at 10 Hz and 0.4mA.
|
The active intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
Stimulation is administered for 90 seconds per condition, with the frequency and current intensity set according to the experimental protocol.
A 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period are included in each stimulation condition.
The stimulus waveform is sinusoidal.
Stimulation is delivered using saline-soaked sponge electrodes.
Electrode impedance is maintained below 10 kΩ throughout the stimulation session.
|
|
Experimental: sham HD-tACS
For sham HD-tACS, we will stimulate the personalized left or right temporal lobe channel using sham HD-tACS pattern.
|
The sham intervention consists of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) delivered using a 4×1 ring configuration (one center electrode surrounded by four return electrodes) over the personalized left or right temporal lobe.
The return electrodes deliver one-quarter of the central electrode current with opposite polarity.
To mimic the sensory experience of active stimulation, the sham condition includes a 10-second ramp-up and a 5-second ramp-down period at 0.4 mA and 140 Hz, with no current delivered during the intervening 90-second period.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Beta2-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Changes in EEG power(dB) in beta2 band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Alpha-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Changes in EEG power(dB) in alpha band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Delta-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Changes in EEG power(dB) in delta band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Theta-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Changes in EEG power(dB) in theta band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Gamma-band EEG power at the stimulation site
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Changes in EEG power(dB) in gamma band within different frequency band measured at the temporal lobe during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Beta2-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Beta2-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Alpha-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Alpha-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Delta-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Delta-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Theta-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Theta-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
|
Gamma-band functional connectivity measured by EEG wPLI
Time Frame: 180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Gamma-band functional connectivity between predefined EEG electrodes, quantified using the weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), during the 180-second resting-state EEG recording immediately following each stimulation condition.
|
180-second recording after each 90-second stimulation
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Sponsor
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)
December 5, 2025
Primary Completion (Actual)
February 11, 2026
Study Completion (Actual)
February 15, 2026
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
July 1, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 29, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
September 1, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
September 1, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 29, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Other Study ID Numbers
- HFJiang-006
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
NO
IPD Plan Description
Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because of privacy and confidentiality considerations related to the collection of electrophysiological data from human participants.
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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