Cognitive FunctionNCT05556655
Brain Stimulation Effects on Cognitive Task Performance
A study testing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with Cognitive Function, run by Colorado State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine optimal task design parameters for the measurement of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) effects on cognition. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cognitive Function
- What is being tested?
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 20 Apr 2023to 1 Jan 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Right-handed
- Fluent in English
Who cannot join
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Family history of epilepsy
- Significant medical or neurological diagnoses
- History of common headache or migraine
- History of common or recent syncope
- History of moderate/severe, multiple mild, or past 12 months head injury
Show all 22Show fewer
- History of psychiatric, psychological, or neurodevelopmental disorder
- History of alcohol or recreational drug abuse or dependence
- Current visual or hearing difficulties that interfere with cognitive testing
- History of cochlear implants
- Current pregnancy
- History of metal in the head or neck (except braces and fillings)
- Current non-removable piercings in the neck or head
- History of implanted neurostimulator
- History of cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines
- History of medication infusion device
- Current use of medications that increase the excitability of the brain
- History of problems with TMS or MRI procedures
- History of EEG for suspected epilepsy
- Alcohol or recreational drug use in the 48 hours prior to TMS
- Inadequate sleep in the 48 hours prior to TMS
- Headache or feeling faint in the 24 hours prior to TMS.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Colorado State University Department of Psychology
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523
Michael L Thomas, PhD, 970-491-6820, michael.l.thomas@colostate.edu
About this study
The purpose of this study is to determine optimal task design parameters for the measurement of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) effects on cognition.
Read the detailed description
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that relies on rapidly changing magnetic fields to influence neuronal firing rates. TMS can be used to temporarily inhibit or enhance the firing of populations of neurons located in the cerebral cortex. TMS-induced cortical inhibition versus enhancement is increasingly being used as a tool for exploring brain-behavior relationships and for improving cognitive functioning in people experiencing cognitive deficits due to neuropsychiatric illness (e.g., dementia and schizophrenia). However, important and unresolved methodological issues in this field concern the optimal design of cognitive tasks for TMS stimulation protocols. The purpose of this study is to determine optimal design protocols for online TMS studies of cognitive processes involved in attention, learning, and memory. Research participants will complete cognitive tasks while active versus sham (i.e., non-stimulating) TMS is applied to the brain. A factorial design will be used to determine the combination of task and TMS parameters (i.e., device settings) that produce the most robust and reliable behavioral effects.
- Conditions
- Cognitive Function
- Being tested
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Keywords
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, TMS
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transcranial Magnetic StimulationDevice
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method for stimulating neurons (axons not cell bodies) in the brain.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active TMS | Experimental | Repetitive TMS for the brain Receives: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
| Sham TMS | Placebo comparator | Scalp stimulation that does not affect the brain. Receives: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sternberg Memory Task (Accuracy)
Mean item accuracy on a computerized Sternberg memory task.
Measured: Single study appointment. 1 hour. There will be no follow up.
Sternberg Memory Task (Reaction Time)
Mean item reaction time on a computerized Sternberg memory task.
Measured: Single study appointment. 1 hour. There will be no follow up.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Sep 2022
- Study start20 Apr 2023
- Primary completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cognitive FunctionStudies 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Mechanistic study of impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on cognitive function.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Colorado State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05556655
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 3502
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Sep 2022
- Last updated
- 8 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- 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 8 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Brain Stimulation Effects on Cognitive Task Performance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05556655
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 3502
- Conditions
- Cognitive Function
- Keywords
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, TMS
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Colorado State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Sep 2022 (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 determine optimal task design parameters for the measurement of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) effects on cognition.
Detailed description
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that relies on rapidly changing magnetic fields to influence neuronal firing rates. TMS can be used to temporarily inhibit or enhance the firing of populations of neurons located in the cerebral cortex. TMS-induced cortical inhibition versus enhancement is increasingly being used as a tool for exploring brain-behavior relationships and for improving cognitive functioning in people experiencing cognitive deficits due to neuropsychiatric illness (e.g., dementia and schizophrenia). However, important and unresolved methodological issues in this field concern the optimal design of cognitive tasks for TMS stimulation protocols. The purpose of this study is to determine optimal design protocols for online TMS studies of cognitive processes involved in attention, learning, and memory. Research participants will complete cognitive tasks while active versus sham (i.e., non-stimulating) TMS is applied to the brain. A factorial design will be used to determine the combination of task and TMS parameters (i.e., device settings) that produce the most robust and reliable behavioral effects.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Mechanistic study of impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on cognitive function.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active TMS | Experimental | Device: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationRepetitive TMS for the brain |
| Sham TMS | Placebo comparator | Device: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationScalp stimulation that does not affect the brain. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Right-handed
- Fluent in English
Key exclusion criteria (22 listed)
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Family history of epilepsy
- Significant medical or neurological diagnoses
- History of common headache or migraine
- History of common or recent syncope
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial Magnetic StimulationTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method for stimulating neurons (axons not cell bodies) in the brain. | Device | Active TMS, Sham TMS |
Primary outcome
Sternberg Memory Task (Accuracy)
Time frame: Single study appointment. 1 hour. There will be no follow up.
Mean item accuracy on a computerized Sternberg memory task.
Sternberg Memory Task (Reaction Time)
Time frame: Single study appointment. 1 hour. There will be no follow up.
Mean item reaction time on a computerized Sternberg memory task.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Apr 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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with Cognitive Function, run by Colorado State University 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 2 inclusion and 22 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Apr 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. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Michael Thomas, PhD ((970) 491-6820, Michael.L.Thomas@colostate.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Sternberg Memory Task (Accuracy) (time frame: Single study appointment. 1 hour. There will be no follow up.). 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 8 Apr 2026.