tACS for Working Memory in Schizophrenia
2026年7月8日 更新者: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.
研究概览
详细说明
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.
研究类型
介入性
注册 (估计的)
30
阶段
- 不适用
联系人和位置
本节提供了进行研究的人员的详细联系信息,以及有关进行该研究的地点的信息。
学习联系方式
- 姓名:Renrong Wu
- 电话号码:15874179855
- 邮箱:wurenrong@csu.edu.cn
学习地点
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Hunan
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Changsha、Hunan、中国、410011
- 招聘中
- The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
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接触:
- Jimin Zhang
- 电话号码:18738858423
- 邮箱:zhangjimin@csu.edu.cn
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参与标准
研究人员寻找符合特定描述的人,称为资格标准。这些标准的一些例子是一个人的一般健康状况或先前的治疗。
资格标准
适合学习的年龄
- 成人
接受健康志愿者
不
描述
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.
学习计划
本节提供研究计划的详细信息,包括研究的设计方式和研究的衡量标准。
研究是如何设计的?
设计细节
- 主要用途:治疗
- 分配:随机化
- 介入模型:并行分配
- 屏蔽:单身的
武器和干预
参与者组/臂 |
干预/治疗 |
|---|---|
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假比较器:sham group
sham stimulation
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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.
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实验性的:active group
transcranial alternating current stimulation
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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.
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研究衡量的是什么?
主要结果指标
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
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Working Memory Accuracy
大体时间: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.
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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.
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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.
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Working Memory Reaction Time
大体时间: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.
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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.
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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.
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次要结果测量
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
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Changes in MCCB Performance
大体时间:Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions
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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.
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Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions
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Changes in Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) Scores
大体时间:Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
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Scores range from 30 to 210, with higher scores indicating more severe positive and negative symptoms.
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Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) Scores
大体时间:Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
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Scores range from 0 to 120; higher scores indicate more severe negative symptoms.
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Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) Scores
大体时间:Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
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Scores range from 0 to 27; higher scores indicate more severe affective symptoms.
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Before and one week after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in Brain Function
大体时间:Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions.
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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.
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Baseline, on the day after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in Neuroelectrophysiological Signals
大体时间:Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in neuroelectrophysiological signals are collected through task-based electroencephalography (EEG).
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Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in 40Hz Auditory Steady-State Response (40Hz-ASSR)
大体时间:Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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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.
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Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in Mismatch Negativity (MMN)
大体时间:Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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Mismatch negativity amplitude recorded by EEG using an oddball paradigm will be measured.
The unit of measurement is microvolts (μV).
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Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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Changes in P300 Event-Related Potential
大体时间:Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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P300 amplitude recorded by EEG using an oddball paradigm will be measured.
The unit of measurement is microvolts (μV).
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Baseline, 30 minutes after each of the two interventions.
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Hallucination and Delusion Visual Analog Scale (HD-VAS) Score
大体时间:Within 15 minutes after completion of Session 1; within 15 minutes after completion of Session 2.
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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.
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Within 15 minutes after completion of Session 1; within 15 minutes after completion of Session 2.
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合作者和调查者
在这里您可以找到参与这项研究的人员和组织。
研究记录日期
这些日期跟踪向 ClinicalTrials.gov 提交研究记录和摘要结果的进度。研究记录和报告的结果由国家医学图书馆 (NLM) 审查,以确保它们在发布到公共网站之前符合特定的质量控制标准。
研究主要日期
学习开始 (估计的)
2026年7月6日
初级完成 (估计的)
2026年10月31日
研究完成 (估计的)
2026年12月31日
研究注册日期
首次提交
2026年7月2日
首先提交符合 QC 标准的
2026年7月8日
首次发布 (实际的)
2026年7月14日
研究记录更新
最后更新发布 (实际的)
2026年7月14日
上次提交的符合 QC 标准的更新
2026年7月8日
最后验证
2026年7月1日
更多信息
此信息直接从 clinicaltrials.gov 网站检索,没有任何更改。如果您有任何更改、删除或更新研究详细信息的请求,请联系 register@clinicaltrials.gov. clinicaltrials.gov 上实施更改,我们的网站上也会自动更新.