Disorder of ConsciousnessCONTEST_3NCT03576248
CONsciousness Transcranial Electric STimulation
A study testing In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS and 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS in people with Disorder of Consciousness, run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) at theta frequency and the the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the conscious state of non-communicating patients. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Disorder of Consciousness
- What is being tested?
- In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS and 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 19 Nov 2018to 3 Jan 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 80 years
- Non communicative patients with disorder of consciousness diagnosed by CRS-R (VS, MCS, exitMCS)
- Patients with stable clinical examination (even in intensive care)
- Brain injury confirmed by cerebral imaging (MRI or TDM)
- French social security affiliation
- Signed and informed consent by the patient or by a legal representant
Who cannot join
- Status epilepticus or uncontrolled epilepsy
- Severely neurodegenerative illnesses (Alzheimer disease, Lewy Body Dementia)
- Electrical stimulation contraindication (metallic intra-cranial implants, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, cranial prosthesis)
- Pregnant, parturient or breastfeeding women- Patients underage
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
France1 site
Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle - CR-ICM U 975 / UMRS INSERM 1127
Paris, 75013
About this study
Official title: Effect of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation on the Consciousness of Non-communicating Patients.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) at theta frequency and the the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the conscious state of non-communicating patients. tACS and tDCS are non-invasive stimulation techniques that are used to induce brain oscillations at certain frequency or to increase the brain activity in applied region.
Limited treatments are available to improve consciousness in severely brain injured patients. Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is one of the few therapeutics that showed evidence of efficacy to increase level of consciousness and functional communication in some Minimally Conscious State (MCS) patients, and in some Vegetative State (VS) patients. However the optimal intensity of electrical current stimulation remains unknown and transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation (tACS), with the ability to stimulate cortex at specific frequencies and to manipulate phase-synchrony between regions is a promising techniques to improve patients' consciousness.
In this study, the investigators will use prefrontal tDCS and theta tACS to improve patients consciousness level.
Read the detailed description
This study is constituted of two independent sub-studies investigating two types of stimulation (tDCS and tACS) with the same cross-over design
Study design The study design is composed of two experimental sessions, one active stimulation and one sham comparator. Sessions will be randomized in a double-blind randomized crossover design (neither the participant nor the experimenter knows which session includes which stimulation type), with at least 2 days of interval between them.
In these sessions, the patients' state of consciousness participants will first be determined using the dedicated Coma Recovery Scale - Revised (Giacino, Neurology 2002) (CRS-R) scale before stimulation. Resting state brain activity EEG and cognitive auditory paradigm (local-global paradigm, Bekinschtein, PNAS 2009) will also be recorded before stimulation.
Twenty minutes stimulation will then be performed (see below). CRS-R, resting state EEG and local-global paradigm will be repeated after stimulation.
Outcome measures will be the same in the two studies. The primary outcome will be the change of CRS-R between before and after stimulation. Secondary outcomes will be the neurophysiological correlates of consciousness in resting state EEG and during the local global paradigm.
tACS stimulation During tACS sessions, 6 Hz stimulation (1000 μA) will be applied simultaneously over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) and the left parietal cortex (P3) using an 8-channels stimulator (Starstim NE, Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) with small round sponge electrodes (25 cm2 surface, maximal current density of 0.06 μA/cm2), controlled via Bluetooth. In the in-phase condition, the phase difference between the two stimulation sites will be 0° which will entrain synchronization between sites. In the sham condition, the stimulation will start with a current intensity of 1000 μA lasting for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. Each stimulation session will take 20 minutes and the positions of stimulation electrodes and the duration of the stimulation will be kept identical for all conditions.
tDCS stimulation During tDCS session, 2000 μA stimulation will be applied over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) (Starstim NE, Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) with small round sponge electrodes (25 cm2 surface, maximal current density of 0.06 μA/cm2), controlled via Bluetooth. In the sham condition, the stimulation will start with a current intensity of 2000 μA lasting for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. Each stimulation session will take 20 minutes and the positions of stimulation electrodes and the duration of the stimulation will be kept identical for all conditions.
- Conditions
- Disorder of Consciousness
- Being tested
- In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS, Sham prefronto-parietal tACS, 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS, Sham left prefrontal tDCS
- Keywords
- State of consciousness, tACS, tDCS, Global neuronal workspace, Brain injury
- Medical subject headings
- Consciousness Disorders, Brain Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACSDevice
tACS is a non-invasive stimulation technique that works by delivering a weak sinusoidally oscillating electrical current to the surface of the skull to entrain oscillations in the brain.
Sham prefronto-parietal tACSDevice
tACS is a non-invasive stimulation technique that works by delivering a weak sinusoidally oscillating electrical current to the surface of the skull to entrain oscillations in the brain.
2 mA left prefrontal tDCSDevice
tDCS is a form of neuromodulation method where very low levels of constant current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain
Sham left prefrontal tDCSDevice
tDCS is a form of neuromodulation method where very low levels of constant current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS | Experimental | 6 Hz stimulation (1000 μA) with transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation (tACS) will be applied simultaneously over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) and the left parietal cortex (P3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system, with a return electrode in Cz) for 20 minutes. The phase difference between the two stimulation sites will be 0°. Receives: Device: In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS |
| Sham prefronto-parietal tACS | Sham comparator | The same stimulation as in in-phase transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation tACS (6 Hz F3 and P3 stimulation with 0° phase difference) will start with a current intensity of 1000 μA lasting for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. The whole session duration is 20 minutes. Receives: Device: Sham prefronto-parietal tACS |
| 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS | Experimental | 2000 μA anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) will be applied over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system with a right supraorbital return electrode (Fp2 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) during 20 minutes. Receives: Device: 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS |
| Sham left prefrontal tDCS | Sham comparator | The same stimulation as active transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) (anodal F3 and return in Fp2) will start at 2 mA intensity for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. The whole session duration is 20 minutes. Receives: Device: Sham left prefrontal tDCS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
State of consciousness
Change of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores (CRS-R, Giacino et al. Neurology 2002 and Kalmar et al., Neuropsychol Rehabil 2005) between before and after stimulation (CRS-R post stimulation - CRS-R before stimulation). The CRS-R score is a qualitative and quantitative scales ranking predefined behaviors elicited by the patients in the following six subscales, auditory function, visual function, motor function, verbal and oromotor function, communication and wakefulness, the sum of which give a total score ranging from 0 to 23. Higher values of the scale mean a better state of consciousness. This change in state of consciousness will be compared between active stimulation and sham stimulation
Measured: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Evoked response potential during local-global paradigm
Change of the ERPS recorded during the "local global" auditory paradigm (Bekinschtein et al., PNAS 2009)
Measured: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)
Resting state EEG
Change from baseline of the multivariate automatic classification of conscious state from EEG (Sitt et al., Brain et al. 2014)
Measured: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jul 2018
- Study start19 Nov 2018
- Primary completion31 Oct 2022
- Study completion3 Jan 2024
Why it stopped: Expected number of patients unreached because of COVID19 pandemics. Inclusion stopped at N=20 patients (lower expected number of patients).
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Disorder of ConsciousnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, FranceThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- This study is composed of two independent sub-studies, one exploring the effects of tACS and the other the effects of tDCS, with different participants assigned to the two sub-studies. There will be 2 arms in tACS group and 2 arms in tDCS group. Among each sub-study, all participants will participate in all arms (hence the cross-over design).
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Jacobo D Sitt, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, CR-ICM U 975 /UMRS INSERM 1127Lionel Naccache, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, CR-ICM U 975 /UMRS INSERM 1127Bertrand Hermann, MD, Principal investigator, CR-ICM U 975 /UMRS INSERM 1127
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03576248
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- C17-56
- Other IDs
- 2017-A02763-50
- Acronym
- CONTEST_3
- Status last verified
- Jan 2019
- First submitted
- 11 Jun 2018
- Last updated
- 23 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Thibaut A, Bruno MA, Ledoux D, Demertzi A, Laureys S. tDCS in patients with disorders of consciousness: sham-controlled randomized double-blind study. Neurology. 2014 Apr 1;82(13):1112-8. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000260. Epub 2014 Feb 26.
PubMed 24574549Polania R, Nitsche MA, Korman C, Batsikadze G, Paulus W. The importance of timing in segregated theta phase-coupling for cognitive performance. Curr Biol. 2012 Jul 24;22(14):1314-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.05.021. Epub 2012 Jun 7.
PubMed 22683259Giacino JT, Ashwal S, Childs N, Cranford R, Jennett B, Katz DI, Kelly JP, Rosenberg JH, Whyte J, Zafonte RD, Zasler ND. The minimally conscious state: definition and diagnostic criteria. Neurology. 2002 Feb 12;58(3):349-53. doi: 10.1212/wnl.58.3.349.
PubMed 11839831Kalmar K, Giacino JT. The JFK Coma Recovery Scale--Revised. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2005 Jul-Sep;15(3-4):454-60. doi: 10.1080/09602010443000425.
PubMed 16350986Sangare A, Munoz-Musat E, Hermann B, Herault C, Belloli L, Breton M, Borden A, Ben Salah A, Valente M, Demeret S, Rohaut B, Sitt JD, Naccache L. Prefrontal tDCS modulates behavioural and neural signatures associated with consciousness. Neuroimage. 2026 Aug 1;336:122015. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.122015. Epub 2026 May 22.
PubMed 42176825
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation on the Consciousness of Non-communicating Patients.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03576248
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CONTEST_3 / C17-56
- Conditions
- Disorder of Consciousness
- Keywords
- State of consciousness, tACS, tDCS, Global neuronal workspace, Brain injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: Expected number of patients unreached because of COVID19 pandemics. Inclusion stopped at N=20 patients (lower expected number of patients).
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, FranceOther government
- Study start
- 19 Nov 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 3 Jan 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Jul 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) at theta frequency and the the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the conscious state of non-communicating patients. tACS and tDCS are non-invasive stimulation techniques that are used to induce brain oscillations at certain frequency or to increase the brain activity in applied region.
Limited treatments are available to improve consciousness in severely brain injured patients. Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is one of the few therapeutics that showed evidence of efficacy to increase level of consciousness and functional communication in some Minimally Conscious State (MCS) patients, and in some Vegetative State (VS) patients. However the optimal intensity of electrical current stimulation remains unknown and transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation (tACS), with the ability to stimulate cortex at specific frequencies and to manipulate phase-synchrony between regions is a promising techniques to improve patients' consciousness.
In this study, the investigators will use prefrontal tDCS and theta tACS to improve patients consciousness level.
Detailed description
This study is constituted of two independent sub-studies investigating two types of stimulation (tDCS and tACS) with the same cross-over design
Study design The study design is composed of two experimental sessions, one active stimulation and one sham comparator. Sessions will be randomized in a double-blind randomized crossover design (neither the participant nor the experimenter knows which session includes which stimulation type), with at least 2 days of interval between them.
In these sessions, the patients' state of consciousness participants will first be determined using the dedicated Coma Recovery Scale - Revised (Giacino, Neurology 2002) (CRS-R) scale before stimulation. Resting state brain activity EEG and cognitive auditory paradigm (local-global paradigm, Bekinschtein, PNAS 2009) will also be recorded before stimulation.
Twenty minutes stimulation will then be performed (see below). CRS-R, resting state EEG and local-global paradigm will be repeated after stimulation.
Outcome measures will be the same in the two studies. The primary outcome will be the change of CRS-R between before and after stimulation. Secondary outcomes will be the neurophysiological correlates of consciousness in resting state EEG and during the local global paradigm.
tACS stimulation During tACS sessions, 6 Hz stimulation (1000 μA) will be applied simultaneously over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) and the left parietal cortex (P3) using an 8-channels stimulator (Starstim NE, Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) with small round sponge electrodes (25 cm2 surface, maximal current density of 0.06 μA/cm2), controlled via Bluetooth. In the in-phase condition, the phase difference between the two stimulation sites will be 0° which will entrain synchronization between sites. In the sham condition, the stimulation will start with a current intensity of 1000 μA lasting for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. Each stimulation session will take 20 minutes and the positions of stimulation electrodes and the duration of the stimulation will be kept identical for all conditions.
tDCS stimulation During tDCS session, 2000 μA stimulation will be applied over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) (Starstim NE, Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) with small round sponge electrodes (25 cm2 surface, maximal current density of 0.06 μA/cm2), controlled via Bluetooth. In the sham condition, the stimulation will start with a current intensity of 2000 μA lasting for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. Each stimulation session will take 20 minutes and the positions of stimulation electrodes and the duration of the stimulation will be kept identical for all conditions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- This study is composed of two independent sub-studies, one exploring the effects of tACS and the other the effects of tDCS, with different participants assigned to the two sub-studies. There will be 2 arms in tACS group and 2 arms in tDCS group. Among each sub-study, all participants will participate in all arms (hence the cross-over design).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS | Experimental | Device: In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS6 Hz stimulation (1000 μA) with transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation (tACS) will be applied simultaneously over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) and the left parietal cortex (P3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system, with a return electrode in Cz) for 20 minutes. The phase difference between the two stimulation sites will be 0°. |
| Sham prefronto-parietal tACS | Sham comparator | Device: Sham prefronto-parietal tACSThe same stimulation as in in-phase transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation tACS (6 Hz F3 and P3 stimulation with 0° phase difference) will start with a current intensity of 1000 μA lasting for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. The whole session duration is 20 minutes. |
| 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS | Experimental | Device: 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS2000 μA anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) will be applied over the left prefrontal dorso-lateral cortex (F3 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system with a right supraorbital return electrode (Fp2 of the 10-20 international scalp EEG system) during 20 minutes. |
| Sham left prefrontal tDCS | Sham comparator | Device: Sham left prefrontal tDCSThe same stimulation as active transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) (anodal F3 and return in Fp2) will start at 2 mA intensity for 30 seconds. Afterwards, the intensity will progressively decrease over 20 seconds until cessation. The whole session duration is 20 minutes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age between 18 and 80 years
- Non communicative patients with disorder of consciousness diagnosed by CRS-R (VS, MCS, exitMCS)
- Patients with stable clinical examination (even in intensive care)
- Brain injury confirmed by cerebral imaging (MRI or TDM)
- French social security affiliation
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Status epilepticus or uncontrolled epilepsy
- Severely neurodegenerative illnesses (Alzheimer disease, Lewy Body Dementia)
- Electrical stimulation contraindication (metallic intra-cranial implants, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, cranial prosthesis)
- Pregnant, parturient or breastfeeding women- Patients underage
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACStACS is a non-invasive stimulation technique that works by delivering a weak sinusoidally oscillating electrical current to the surface of the skull to entrain oscillations in the brain. | Device | In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS |
| Sham prefronto-parietal tACStACS is a non-invasive stimulation technique that works by delivering a weak sinusoidally oscillating electrical current to the surface of the skull to entrain oscillations in the brain. | Device | Sham prefronto-parietal tACS |
| 2 mA left prefrontal tDCStDCS is a form of neuromodulation method where very low levels of constant current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain | Device | 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS |
| Sham left prefrontal tDCStDCS is a form of neuromodulation method where very low levels of constant current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain | Device | Sham left prefrontal tDCS |
Primary outcome
State of consciousness
Time frame: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)
Change of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores (CRS-R, Giacino et al. Neurology 2002 and Kalmar et al., Neuropsychol Rehabil 2005) between before and after stimulation (CRS-R post stimulation - CRS-R before stimulation). The CRS-R score is a qualitative and quantitative scales ranking predefined behaviors elicited by the patients in the following six subscales, auditory function, visual function, motor function, verbal and oromotor function, communication and wakefulness, the sum of which give a total score ranging from 0 to 23. Higher values of the scale mean a better state of consciousness. This change in state of consciousness will be compared between active stimulation and sham stimulation
2 secondary outcomes
Evoked response potential during local-global paradigm
Time frame: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)
Resting state EEG
Time frame: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)
Results and safety
The study was stopped early (reason given: Expected number of patients unreached because of COVID19 pandemics. Inclusion stopped at N=20 patients (lower expected number of patients).). Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 24574549Thibaut A, Bruno MA, Ledoux D, Demertzi A, Laureys S. tDCS in patients with disorders of consciousness: sham-controlled randomized double-blind study. Neurology. 2014 Apr 1;82(13):1112-8. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000260. Epub 2014 Feb 26.
- Background: PubMed 22683259Polania R, Nitsche MA, Korman C, Batsikadze G, Paulus W. The importance of timing in segregated theta phase-coupling for cognitive performance. Curr Biol. 2012 Jul 24;22(14):1314-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.05.021. Epub 2012 Jun 7.
- Background: PubMed 11839831Giacino JT, Ashwal S, Childs N, Cranford R, Jennett B, Katz DI, Kelly JP, Rosenberg JH, Whyte J, Zafonte RD, Zasler ND. The minimally conscious state: definition and diagnostic criteria. Neurology. 2002 Feb 12;58(3):349-53. doi: 10.1212/wnl.58.3.349.
- Background: PubMed 16350986Kalmar K, Giacino JT. The JFK Coma Recovery Scale--Revised. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2005 Jul-Sep;15(3-4):454-60. doi: 10.1080/09602010443000425.
- Results publication: PubMed 42176825Sangare A, Munoz-Musat E, Hermann B, Herault C, Belloli L, Breton M, Borden A, Ben Salah A, Valente M, Demeret S, Rohaut B, Sitt JD, Naccache L. Prefrontal tDCS modulates behavioural and neural signatures associated with consciousness. Neuroimage. 2026 Aug 1;336:122015. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.122015. Epub 2026 May 22.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jacobo D Sitt, MD, PhD principal investigator
CR-ICM U 975 /UMRS INSERM 1127
Lionel Naccache, MD, PhD principal investigator
CR-ICM U 975 /UMRS INSERM 1127
Bertrand Hermann, MD principal investigator
CR-ICM U 975 /UMRS INSERM 1127
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing In-phase 6 Hz prefronto-parietal tACS and 2 mA left prefrontal tDCS in people with Disorder of Consciousness, run by Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study was stopped early (reason given: Expected number of patients unreached because of COVID19 pandemics. Inclusion stopped at N=20 patients (lower expected number of patients).). Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
State of consciousness (time frame: Two time points: immediately before (baseline) and immediately after stimulation (post-stimulation)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03576248, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Sep 2026.