Location- and Frequency-Dependent Effects of Thalamic Temporal Interference Stimulation During Sleep
Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Healthy Adult Participants, Healthy Participants
In brief
This study is to find out whether a type of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation called temporal interference transcranial electrical stimulation (TI-TES) can temporarily change brain activity during sleep, especially sleep spindles (brain rhythms in the \~8-16 Hz range). Up to 24 healthy participants in Dane County, Wisconsin will be enrolled for 3 overnight study visits. Participants can expect to be on study for approximately 5 weeks, depending on scheduling availability.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07498270
- Run by
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- People needed
- 24
- Starts
- 2026-06-05
- Expected to finish
- 2028-02-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-08-10
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Medically healthy (based on self-report and study team review)
- U.S. citizen or holding permanent resident status
- English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)
You may not qualify if…
- Any current or past history of neurological disorders or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions (including clinically significant findings identified in first MRI)
- History of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
- History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness; or a history of greater than 3 grade I concussions
- Current history of poorly controlled headaches including intractable or poorly controlled migraines
- Any systemic illness or unstable medical condition that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
- History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG, or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy except for a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
- Possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months (self reported)
- Any metal in the head
- Any medical devices or implants (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator)
- Dental implants
- Permanent retainers
- Any hair braid, dreadlocks, hair pieces, or extensions which cannot be taken out before the study sessions
- Any head coverings or headdress that participant feels uncomfortable removing for the purposes of study sessions
- Any medication that may alter seizure threshold taken during the study i.e., ADHD stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine); Tricyclic/atypical antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepine, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, bupropion); SSRIs (Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Sertraline); Antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, clozapine), Bronchodilators (theophylline, aminophylline); Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, imipenem, penicillin, cephalosporins, metronidazole, isoniazid); Antivirals (valacyclovir, ritonavir); OTC antihistamines (diphenhydramine, Benadryl)
- Claustrophobia (a fear of small or closed places)
- Back problems that would prevent lying flat for up to two hours
- Regular night-shift work (second or third shift)
- Sleep apnea or other sleep disorder (self-reported)
Where it is running
- Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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