ADHDNCT05119660
Modulation of Frontoparietal Dynamics Underlying Adolescent Working Memory Deficits
A study testing Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in people with ADHD, run by Bradley Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to test whether a single session of brain stimulation (called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS]) can improve the brain activity underlying 'working memory.' Working memory is the ability to hold information 'in mind' to complete daily activities. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- ADHD
- What is being tested?
- Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2021to 30 Mar 2025
- 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 13 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Ability to provide assent and have parent provide parental permission
- English fluency of the participant and the legal guardian/parent
- 13-18 years
- Parent rating on BRIEF-2 Working Memory: Greater than 1.0 SD above normative mean.
- IQ > 80
- Clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type, combined type, or unspecified type. Diagnostic criteria will be confirmed with NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scales-Parent.
Show all 36Show fewer
- Healthy Control Arm: We will target a sample of healthy, young adults. Inclusion Criteria
- Ability to provide consent
- English fluency of the participant
- 18-25 years
- Never diagnosed or meets current criteria for a psychiatric disorder, as measured by self-report of prior diagnoses and formal completion of the diagnostic interview.
- Exclusion Criteria: For patient and healthy control participants
- Participants will be screened to exclude individuals with neurological or medical conditions that might confound the results, as well as to exclude participants in whom MRI or TMS might result in increased risk of side effects or complications. Common contraindications include metallic hardware in the body, cardiac pacemaker, patients with an implanted medication pumps or an intracardiac line, or prescription of medications known to lower seizure threshold. These account for the majority of the exclusion criteria listed below:
- Intracranial pathology from a known genetic disorder (e.g., NF1, tuberous sclerosis) or from acquired neurologic disease (e.g. stroke, tumor), cerebral palsy, history of severe head injury, or significant dysmorphology
- History of fainting spells of unknown or undetermined etiology that might constitute seizures
- History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, or immediate (1st degree relative) family history epilepsy
- Any progressive (e.g., neurodegenerative) neurological disorder
- Chronic (particularly) uncontrolled medical conditions that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
- Contraindicated metal implants in the head, brain or spinal cord (excluding dental implants, braces or fillings)
- Non-removable makeup or piercings
- Pacemaker
- Implanted medication pump
- Vagal nerve stimulator
- Deep brain stimulator
- TENS unit (unless removed completely for the study)
- Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt
- Signs of increased intracranial pressure
- Intracranial lesion (including incidental finding on MRI)
- History of head injury resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness
- Substance abuse or dependence within past six months (i.e., DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria)
- Chronic treatment with prescription medications that decrease cortical seizure threshold, not including psychostimulant medication if deemed to be medically safe as part of the medical review process.
- Active psychosis or mania
- Current suicidal intent
- Current pregnancy
- Significant visual, hearing or speech impairment
- Current wards of the state
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
E. P. Bradley Hospital
East Providence, Rhode Island, 02915
About this study
Official title: Modulation of Frontoparietal Dynamics Underlying Adolescent Working Memory Deficits: A COBRE Pilot Project
The purpose of this study is to test whether a single session of brain stimulation (called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS]) can improve the brain activity underlying 'working memory.' Working memory is the ability to hold information 'in mind' to complete daily activities. This study involves teenagers with ADHD as well as healthy young adults. It is funded by The COBRE Center for Neuromodulation (CCN) at Butler Hospital (Pilot Project)
Read the detailed description
The objective of this project is to examine the contributing roles of the PPC and PFC in WM processes and relatedly, develop optimal targets for modulating WM-related neural oscillations. Patient Arm: In a 2x2 factorial double-blind design, we will randomize a sample of adolescents (13-18 years) with WM deficits to intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or inferior parietal lobule (IPL), based on each participant's structural brain MRI. Control Arm: A sample of healthy young adults (18-25 years) will receive an individualized theta-gamma parameters protocol of iTBS to the left DLPFC. Participants in both arms will complete an active iTBS session and a sham iTBS session. The primary outcome will be theta-gamma coupling during WM demands, as measured via electroencephalography (EEG) during a Sternberg spatial WM task (SWMT) immediately before and after iTBS. The central hypothesis is that the PFC and PPC regions have complimentary roles in executing WM processes. Further, iTBS can modulate theta-gamma coupling in these regions to improve behavioral performance. Our central hypothesis is formulated based on our preliminary data on the critical role of theta-gamma coupling in WM processes. To attain the overall objectives, the following specific aims will be pursued:
Aim 1: Examine the effect of iTBS to the PPC on the encoding stage of WM. Hypothesis: Compared to sham and DLPFC conditions, iTBS to the IPL will increase theta-gamma coupling during encoding. Modulation of theta-gamma coupling will correlate with improved behavioral performance.
Aim 2: Examine the effect of iTBS to the PFC on the maintenance stage of WM. Hypothesis: Compared to sham and IPL conditions, iTBS to the DLPFC will increase theta-gamma coupling during maintenance. Modulation of theta-gamma coupling will correlate with improved behavioral performance.
Aim 3: Examine the feasibility and preliminary effect of individualized iTBS to the PFC. Hypothesis: It will be feasible to utilize peak theta-gamma coupling during the SWMT to identify optimal iTBS parameters. Individualized iTBS will increase theta-gamma coupling during WM demands and improve behavioral performance.
Exploratory Aim: Identify the neocortical circuitry underlying oscillatory modulation. Computational modeling designed for neural interpretation of EEG will translate obtained recordings into cellular/circuit-level activity delineating the neural mechanism of the observed modulation. Hypothesis: pyramidal-interneuron mechanisms within the PPC/PFC will underlie the theta/gamma oscillatory modulation.
- Conditions
- ADHD
- Being tested
- Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation
- Medical subject headings
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationDevice
iTBS
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Arm | Experimental | In a 2x2 factorial double-blind design, we will randomize a sample of adolescents (13-18 years) with WM deficits to intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or inferior parietal lobule (IPL), based on each participant's structural brain MRI.
Participants in both arms will complete an active iTBS session and a sham iTBS session. The primary outcome will be theta-gamma coupling during WM demands, as measured via electroencephalography (EEG) during a Sternberg spatial WM task (SWMT) immediately before and after iTBS. Receives: Device: Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation |
| Healthy Control Arm | Experimental | Control Arm: A sample of healthy young adults (18-25 years) will receive an individualized theta-gamma parameters protocol of iTBS to the left DLPFC.
Participants in both arms will complete an active iTBS session and a sham iTBS session. The primary outcome will be theta-gamma coupling during WM demands, as measured via electroencephalography (EEG) during a Sternberg spatial WM task (SWMT) immediately before and after iTBS. Receives: Device: Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Theta-Gamma Coupling After Sham iTBS
EEG recording will be obtained while the participant completes the Sternberg Spatial Working Memory Test (SWMT). The coupling between theta phase and gamma amplitude will be extracted from the EEG during encoding and maintaining demands. The change between pre and post a single iTBS session will be calculated.
Measured: Theta-gamma coupling will be obtained before and after iTBS administration. There will be approximately 5 minutes between the pre and post EEG recordings. The change between pre and post is the outcome variable.
Change in Theta-Gamma Coupling after Active iTBS
EEG recording will be obtained while the participant completes the Sternberg Spatial Working Memory Test (SWMT). The coupling between theta phase and gamma amplitude will be extracted from the EEG during encoding and maintaining demands. The change between pre and post a single iTBS session will be calculated.
Measured: Theta-gamma coupling will be obtained before and after iTBS administration. There will be approximately 5 minutes between the pre and post EEG recordings. The change between pre and post is the outcome variable.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Nov 2021
- Study start1 Oct 2021
- Primary completion30 Mar 2025
- Study completion30 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ADHDStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bradley Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Funding Source: COBRE Center for Neuromodulation at Butler Hospital (Pilot Project)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05119660
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BradleyH002
- Status last verified
- Oct 2022
- First submitted
- 6 Oct 2021
- Last updated
- 9 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Modulation of Frontoparietal Dynamics Underlying Adolescent Working Memory Deficits: A COBRE Pilot Project
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05119660
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BradleyH002
- Conditions
- ADHD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bradley HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Funding Source: COBRE Center for Neuromodulation at Butler Hospital (Pilot Project)
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Nov 2021 (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 purpose of this study is to test whether a single session of brain stimulation (called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS]) can improve the brain activity underlying 'working memory.' Working memory is the ability to hold information 'in mind' to complete daily activities. This study involves teenagers with ADHD as well as healthy young adults. It is funded by The COBRE Center for Neuromodulation (CCN) at Butler Hospital (Pilot Project)
Detailed description
The objective of this project is to examine the contributing roles of the PPC and PFC in WM processes and relatedly, develop optimal targets for modulating WM-related neural oscillations. Patient Arm: In a 2x2 factorial double-blind design, we will randomize a sample of adolescents (13-18 years) with WM deficits to intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or inferior parietal lobule (IPL), based on each participant's structural brain MRI. Control Arm: A sample of healthy young adults (18-25 years) will receive an individualized theta-gamma parameters protocol of iTBS to the left DLPFC. Participants in both arms will complete an active iTBS session and a sham iTBS session. The primary outcome will be theta-gamma coupling during WM demands, as measured via electroencephalography (EEG) during a Sternberg spatial WM task (SWMT) immediately before and after iTBS. The central hypothesis is that the PFC and PPC regions have complimentary roles in executing WM processes. Further, iTBS can modulate theta-gamma coupling in these regions to improve behavioral performance. Our central hypothesis is formulated based on our preliminary data on the critical role of theta-gamma coupling in WM processes. To attain the overall objectives, the following specific aims will be pursued:
Aim 1: Examine the effect of iTBS to the PPC on the encoding stage of WM. Hypothesis: Compared to sham and DLPFC conditions, iTBS to the IPL will increase theta-gamma coupling during encoding. Modulation of theta-gamma coupling will correlate with improved behavioral performance.
Aim 2: Examine the effect of iTBS to the PFC on the maintenance stage of WM. Hypothesis: Compared to sham and IPL conditions, iTBS to the DLPFC will increase theta-gamma coupling during maintenance. Modulation of theta-gamma coupling will correlate with improved behavioral performance.
Aim 3: Examine the feasibility and preliminary effect of individualized iTBS to the PFC. Hypothesis: It will be feasible to utilize peak theta-gamma coupling during the SWMT to identify optimal iTBS parameters. Individualized iTBS will increase theta-gamma coupling during WM demands and improve behavioral performance.
Exploratory Aim: Identify the neocortical circuitry underlying oscillatory modulation. Computational modeling designed for neural interpretation of EEG will translate obtained recordings into cellular/circuit-level activity delineating the neural mechanism of the observed modulation. Hypothesis: pyramidal-interneuron mechanisms within the PPC/PFC will underlie the theta/gamma oscillatory modulation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Arm | Experimental | Device: Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationIn a 2x2 factorial double-blind design, we will randomize a sample of adolescents (13-18 years) with WM deficits to intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or inferior parietal lobule (IPL), based on each participant's structural brain MRI. Participants in both arms will complete an active iTBS session and a sham iTBS session. The primary outcome will be theta-gamma coupling during WM demands, as measured via electroencephalography (EEG) during a Sternberg spatial WM task (SWMT) immediately before and after iTBS. |
| Healthy Control Arm | Experimental | Device: Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationControl Arm: A sample of healthy young adults (18-25 years) will receive an individualized theta-gamma parameters protocol of iTBS to the left DLPFC. Participants in both arms will complete an active iTBS session and a sham iTBS session. The primary outcome will be theta-gamma coupling during WM demands, as measured via electroencephalography (EEG) during a Sternberg spatial WM task (SWMT) immediately before and after iTBS. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (36 listed)
- Ability to provide assent and have parent provide parental permission
- English fluency of the participant and the legal guardian/parent
- 13-18 years
- Parent rating on BRIEF-2 Working Memory: Greater than 1.0 SD above normative mean.
- IQ > 80
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationiTBS | Device | Healthy Control Arm, Patient Arm |
Primary outcome
Change in Theta-Gamma Coupling After Sham iTBS
Time frame: Theta-gamma coupling will be obtained before and after iTBS administration. There will be approximately 5 minutes between the pre and post EEG recordings. The change between pre and post is the outcome variable.
EEG recording will be obtained while the participant completes the Sternberg Spatial Working Memory Test (SWMT). The coupling between theta phase and gamma amplitude will be extracted from the EEG during encoding and maintaining demands. The change between pre and post a single iTBS session will be calculated.
Change in Theta-Gamma Coupling after Active iTBS
Time frame: Theta-gamma coupling will be obtained before and after iTBS administration. There will be approximately 5 minutes between the pre and post EEG recordings. The change between pre and post is the outcome variable.
EEG recording will be obtained while the participant completes the Sternberg Spatial Working Memory Test (SWMT). The coupling between theta phase and gamma amplitude will be extracted from the EEG during encoding and maintaining demands. The change between pre and post a single iTBS session will be calculated.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Jul 2026.
- 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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in people with ADHD, run by Bradley Hospital at 1 site in United States.
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 36 inclusion and 0 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Jul 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 United States. 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. 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 is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change in Theta-Gamma Coupling After Sham iTBS (time frame: Theta-gamma coupling will be obtained before and after iTBS administration. There will be approximately 5 minutes between the pre and post EEG recordings. The change between pre and post is the outcome variable.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 9 Jul 2026.