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tACS for Working Memory in Schizophrenia

8 luglio 2026 aggiornato da: Renrong Wu, Central South University

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Improving Working Memory in Patients With Schizophrenia

This study is a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial enrolling 30 schizophrenia patients, each receiving one active and one sham tACS session (7-day washout), targeting P3/P4 at individual alpha frequency (2mA, 30min) during a working memory task, with accuracy and reaction time as primary outcomes, alongside EEG and neurophysiological measures, to test the efficacy and mechanisms of individualized alpha-tACS on working memory.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

This study is a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled, crossover exploratory trial that plans to enroll 30 inpatients with schizophrenia, randomized 1:1 into two groups, with all participants receiving one active and one sham tACS session in a crossover manner separated by a 7-day washout. Stimulation targets the parietal P3/P4 sites at individual alpha frequency, with an intensity of 2 mA and a duration of 30 minutes per session, delivered concurrently with a working memory task (SIRP). Primary outcomes are SIRP accuracy and reaction time, with concurrent task-state EEG recording, along with assessments of clinical symptoms, cognitive function, and neurophysiological markers including ASSR, MMN, and P300. The study aims to explore the efficacy and underlying neural mechanisms of individualized alpha-tACS in improving working memory in schizophrenia.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

30

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Luoghi di studio

  • Cina
    • Hunan
      • Changsha, Hunan, Cina, 410011
        • Reclutamento
        • The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
        • Contatto:

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Adulto

Accetta volontari sani

No

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18-50 years, meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, confirmed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5).
  • Spatial span T-score <40 on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB).
  • Taking 1-2 antipsychotic medications, with stable dosage for at least 1 week prior to enrollment. No use of mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or excessive benzodiazepines (lorazepam equivalent >2 mg/day). The type and dosage of antipsychotic medications remain unchanged during the treatment period.
  • Impaired functioning in daily activities.
  • Willing to participate in this study and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previously diagnosed with or comorbid any other DSM-5 mental disorder besides schizophrenia.
  • Presence of significant mood symptoms or substance use disorder (other than caffeine and/or tobacco).
  • Presence of any contraindication to transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).
  • Received other forms of electrical or magnetic stimulation therapy within 1 month prior to enrollment.
  • History or current presence of any major physical illness, neurological disorder, or traumatic brain injury that may affect brain structure or function.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women planning to become pregnant during the study period.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Separare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Comparatore fittizio: sham group
sham stimulation
Dispositivo: sham stimulation
Sham stimulation provides only a 15-second ramp-up and ramp-down current at the beginning and end of each session to mimic the initial tingling or itching sensation on the scalp produced by real stimulation, but delivers no effective stimulation current during the main phase of the task period.
Sperimentale: active group
transcranial alternating current stimulation
Dispositivo: transcranial alternating current stimulation
For montage 1, active electrode at P3 (10-10 system), return electrodes at P1, P5, PO3, CP3. For montage 2, active electrode at P4, return electrodes at P2, P6, PO4, CP4. Conductive paste ensures impedance <10 kΩ. Individual alpha frequency is used, calculated before each session from mean EEG at P3/P4 during SIRP task. Stimulation intensity is 2 mA (peak-to-zero) via electric field modeling. Stimulation is delivered during SIRP task, 30 min total per session (including 15s ramp-up/down), with continuous sine wave output.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Working Memory Accuracy
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 (baseline, prior to first intervention); within 15 minutes after Session 1; Day 9 (prior to second intervention, after 7-day washout); within 15 minutes after Session 2.
Assessment of task accuracy on the Sternberg Item Recognition Paradigm (SIRP). Participants are required to judge whether a probe stimulus belongs to a previously memorized set, with memory set sizes of 1 and 5. The outcome is measured as the percentage of correct responses (0-100%) across all trials, with higher scores indicating better working memory performance.
Day 1 (baseline, prior to first intervention); within 15 minutes after Session 1; Day 9 (prior to second intervention, after 7-day washout); within 15 minutes after Session 2.
Working Memory Reaction Time
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 (baseline, prior to first intervention); within 15 minutes after Session 1; Day 9 (prior to second intervention, after 7-day washout); within 15 minutes after Session 2.
Assessment of response speed on the Sternberg Item Recognition Paradigm (SIRP). Participants are required to judge whether a probe stimulus belongs to a previously memorized set, with memory set sizes of 1 and 5. The outcome is measured as the mean response latency for correct responses only, calculated from stimulus onset to the participant's button press, with shorter times indicating faster processing speed.
Day 1 (baseline, prior to first intervention); within 15 minutes after Session 1; Day 9 (prior to second intervention, after 7-day washout); within 15 minutes after Session 2.

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Changes in MCCB Performance
Lasso di tempo: Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions
Assessment of cognitive function using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), a standardized cognitive assessment tool designed for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric conditions. The MCCB evaluates 9 cognitive domains: attention, information processing speed, verbal learning and memory, visual learning and memory, spatial working memory, reasoning and problem solving, social cognition, executive function, and fine motor skills. The overall cognitive composite score ranges from 20 to 100 (T-score), with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.
Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions
Changes in Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) Scores
Lasso di tempo: Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
Scores range from 30 to 210, with higher scores indicating more severe positive and negative symptoms.
Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
Changes in Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) Scores
Lasso di tempo: Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
Scores range from 0 to 120; higher scores indicate more severe negative symptoms.
Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
Changes in Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) Scores
Lasso di tempo: Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
Scores range from 0 to 27; higher scores indicate more severe affective symptoms.
Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
Changes in Brain Function
Lasso di tempo: Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast, can detect changes in blood oxygenation and analyze changes in brain function after intervention.
Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions.
Changes in Neuroelectrophysiological Signals
Lasso di tempo: Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
Changes in neuroelectrophysiological signals are collected through task-based electroencephalography (EEG).
Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
Changes in 40Hz Auditory Steady-State Response (40Hz-ASSR)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
The 40Hz auditory steady-state response recorded by EEG, including evoked power and inter-trial phase coherence, will be measured. The unit of measurement for evoked power is μV², and for coherence is unitless.
Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
Changes in Mismatch Negativity (MMN)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
Mismatch negativity amplitude recorded by EEG using an oddball paradigm will be measured. The unit of measurement is microvolts (μV).
Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
Changes in P300 Event-Related Potential
Lasso di tempo: Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
P300 amplitude recorded by EEG using an oddball paradigm will be measured. The unit of measurement is microvolts (μV).
Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
Hallucination and Delusion Visual Analog Scale (HD-VAS) Score
Lasso di tempo: Within 15 minutes after completion of Session 1; within 15 minutes after completion of Session 2.
Assessment of acute post-intervention changes in hallucination and delusion severity using a patient-rated visual analog scale (VAS). The scale consists of a 0-100 mm horizontal line, on which participants mark their current symptom severity. The distance (in millimeters) from the left anchor ("no symptoms") to the participant's mark is measured with a ruler. This scale serves as a supplementary measure to the PANSS to capture immediate symptom changes following each intervention. Scores range from 0 to 100 mm, with higher scores indicating more severe hallucinations and delusions.
Within 15 minutes after completion of Session 1; within 15 minutes after completion of Session 2.

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Central South University

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Stimato)

6 luglio 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

31 ottobre 2026

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

31 dicembre 2026

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

2 luglio 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

8 luglio 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

14 luglio 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

14 luglio 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

8 luglio 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 luglio 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Parole chiave

Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • LYG20260081

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

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