Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES)NCT06235970
Cognitive Enhancement Through Model-based and Individualized Neurostimulation
A study of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES), run by Washington University School of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of transcranial electric stimulation on attentional control and brain dynamics in healthy adults. The main questions are: Does stimulation affect how subjects exert attentional control? Do mathematical models predict brain activity changes in response to… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Feb 2024to 31 Dec 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 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy younger adults (ages 18 to 45). Community-living men, women or non-binary, aged 18-45
Who cannot join
- Taking psychotropic medication or medication with cognitive side effects
- Medical disorder that affects cognitive or motor function
- Past/present head injury associated with loss of consciousness or neurological sequelae
- Prior occurrence of seizure of any origin
- Skin conditions affecting the scalp
- Scalp tattoos
- Rashes, sores or open wounds on scalp or face
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of transcranial electric stimulation on attentional control and brain dynamics in healthy adults. The main questions are:
Does stimulation affect how subjects exert attentional control? Do mathematical models predict brain activity changes in response to stimulation?
Participants will have electroencephalography (EEG) brain data recorded while:
They sit relaxed They receive stimulation, while relaxed They receive stimulation while completing computerized tasks to measure cognitive abilities ("cognitive tasks") They receive sham (ineffective) stimulation during cognitive tasks
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this research is to compare the effects of different transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) protocols on both EEG and behavioral markers associated with attention and cognitive control. Both conventional tES protocols (tDCS, tACS) will be compared with customized stimulation waveforms derived from an individualized whole-brain neural model (MINDy), and with periods of sham or no-stimulation.
Non-invasive brain stimulation approaches hold great promise as an intervention to enhance cognitive and brain function in humans, both in clinically impaired and even healthy young adult populations. Transcranial electrical stimulation, known as tES, refers to a family of methods that utilize low-cost technologies and involve low-intensity currents which are safe for humans, and carry minimal risk of side effects or adverse events. Conventional approaches, which utilize fixed direct currents (tDCS) or alternating currents at a fixed oscillatory frequency (tACS), have been widely used as both a basic research tool and as a clinical intervention. However, current literature suggests that tES may be more effective when deployed with stimulation protocols that are: 1) personalized (i.e., respecting individual differences in brain anatomy and function); and 2) informed by an understanding of the mechanisms that govern brain network activation dynamics and interactions.
The investigators will use a single-group design in which 60 healthy young adults receive different stimulation protocols, (plus an additional 10-12 recruited during the initial pilot testing phase), randomized within-subject during either resting- state (Aims 1, 2) or cognitive task conditions (Aim 3), while brain activity is monitored with electroencephalography (EEG). During the EEG recording periods, stimulation epochs will be randomly intermixed with epochs of sham or no- stimulation, with participants masked to the condition. Additionally, conventional stimulation protocols (tDCS, tACS) will be compared with customized stimulation waveforms derived from an individualized whole-brain neural model.
The study will consist of two EEG+tES sessions each lasting approximately one hour, and occurring on separate days.
Outcomes will be assessed in terms of different EEG markers, including spectral power both at the stimulation site and at target brain networks associated with attention and cognitive control (frontoparietal [FPN] and default mode [DMN] networks). Behavioral performance will also be assessed on a well-established experimental task (AX-CPT) that manipulates attention and cognitive control demands, in terms of key accuracy and reaction time performance indices.
- Being tested
- Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAM
- Keywords
- tES, EEG
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAMDevice
Transcranial electrical stimulation, known as tES, refers to a family of devices that utilize low-cost technologies and involve low-intensity currents which are safe for humans, and carry minimal risk of side effects or adverse events. Conventional approaches, which utilize fixed direct currents (tDCS) or alternating currents at a fixed oscillatory frequency (tACS), have been widely used as both a basic research tool and as a clinical intervention. In the current project, we use a custom-built device that enables near real-time current modulation triggered digitally, via software control, to allow for stimulation protocols guided by whole-brain individualized neural modeling.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAM | Experimental | healthy adults Receives: Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAM |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
EEG Markers
Spectral power at stimulation site and within target networks (frontoparietal, default mode): EEG oscillatory power in the beta frequency band over frontal electrodes and theta frequency power over midline electrodes during the delay and response periods, averaged over trial-types. We will also measure the difference in posterior alpha power between the Acue and Bcue trials-types during the delay period.
Measured: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions
Secondary outcomes (2)
Cognitive task accuracy
Percentage of correct responses in the BX and AY trial types for the during AX-CPT task
Measured: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions
Cognitive task speed
Time taken by participants to respond in the BX and AY trial types for the AX-CPT task
Measured: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Feb 2024
- Study start13 Feb 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2025
- Study completion31 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Washington University School of MedicineThe 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- The investigators will use a single-group design in which 72 healthy young adults receive different stimulation protocols, randomized within-subject during either resting state or cognitive task conditions, while brain activity is monitored with electroencephalography (EEG).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Todd Braver, Washington University School of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06235970
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R21MH132240
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Dec 2023
- Last updated
- 7 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Cognitive Enhancement Through Model-based and Individualized Neurostimulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06235970
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R21MH132240
- Keywords
- tES, EEG
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Washington University School of MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Feb 2024 (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 goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of transcranial electric stimulation on attentional control and brain dynamics in healthy adults. The main questions are:
Does stimulation affect how subjects exert attentional control? Do mathematical models predict brain activity changes in response to stimulation?
Participants will have electroencephalography (EEG) brain data recorded while:
They sit relaxed They receive stimulation, while relaxed They receive stimulation while completing computerized tasks to measure cognitive abilities ("cognitive tasks") They receive sham (ineffective) stimulation during cognitive tasks
Detailed description
The purpose of this research is to compare the effects of different transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) protocols on both EEG and behavioral markers associated with attention and cognitive control. Both conventional tES protocols (tDCS, tACS) will be compared with customized stimulation waveforms derived from an individualized whole-brain neural model (MINDy), and with periods of sham or no-stimulation.
Non-invasive brain stimulation approaches hold great promise as an intervention to enhance cognitive and brain function in humans, both in clinically impaired and even healthy young adult populations. Transcranial electrical stimulation, known as tES, refers to a family of methods that utilize low-cost technologies and involve low-intensity currents which are safe for humans, and carry minimal risk of side effects or adverse events. Conventional approaches, which utilize fixed direct currents (tDCS) or alternating currents at a fixed oscillatory frequency (tACS), have been widely used as both a basic research tool and as a clinical intervention. However, current literature suggests that tES may be more effective when deployed with stimulation protocols that are: 1) personalized (i.e., respecting individual differences in brain anatomy and function); and 2) informed by an understanding of the mechanisms that govern brain network activation dynamics and interactions.
The investigators will use a single-group design in which 60 healthy young adults receive different stimulation protocols, (plus an additional 10-12 recruited during the initial pilot testing phase), randomized within-subject during either resting- state (Aims 1, 2) or cognitive task conditions (Aim 3), while brain activity is monitored with electroencephalography (EEG). During the EEG recording periods, stimulation epochs will be randomly intermixed with epochs of sham or no- stimulation, with participants masked to the condition. Additionally, conventional stimulation protocols (tDCS, tACS) will be compared with customized stimulation waveforms derived from an individualized whole-brain neural model.
The study will consist of two EEG+tES sessions each lasting approximately one hour, and occurring on separate days.
Outcomes will be assessed in terms of different EEG markers, including spectral power both at the stimulation site and at target brain networks associated with attention and cognitive control (frontoparietal [FPN] and default mode [DMN] networks). Behavioral performance will also be assessed on a well-established experimental task (AX-CPT) that manipulates attention and cognitive control demands, in terms of key accuracy and reaction time performance indices.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- The investigators will use a single-group design in which 72 healthy young adults receive different stimulation protocols, randomized within-subject during either resting state or cognitive task conditions, while brain activity is monitored with electroencephalography (EEG).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAM | Experimental | Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAMhealthy adults |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Healthy younger adults (ages 18 to 45). Community-living men, women or non-binary, aged 18-45
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Taking psychotropic medication or medication with cognitive side effects
- Medical disorder that affects cognitive or motor function
- Past/present head injury associated with loss of consciousness or neurological sequelae
- Prior occurrence of seizure of any origin
- Skin conditions affecting the scalp
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 electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAMTranscranial electrical stimulation, known as tES, refers to a family of devices that utilize low-cost technologies and involve low-intensity currents which are safe for humans, and carry minimal risk of side effects or adverse events. Conventional approaches, which utilize fixed direct currents (tDCS) or alternating currents at a fixed oscillatory frequency (tACS), have been widely used as both a basic research tool and as a clinical intervention. In the current project, we use a custom-built device that enables near real-time current modulation triggered digitally, via software control, to allow for stimulation protocols guided by whole-brain individualized neural modeling. | Device | Device: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) including SHAM |
Primary outcome
EEG Markers
Time frame: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions
Spectral power at stimulation site and within target networks (frontoparietal, default mode): EEG oscillatory power in the beta frequency band over frontal electrodes and theta frequency power over midline electrodes during the delay and response periods, averaged over trial-types. We will also measure the difference in posterior alpha power between the Acue and Bcue trials-types during the delay period.
2 secondary outcomes
Cognitive task accuracy
Time frame: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions
Cognitive task speed
Time frame: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions
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 7 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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 of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES), run by Washington University School of Medicine 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 1 inclusion and 7 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 7 May 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?
EEG Markers (time frame: Assessed concurrently during each of two 1-hour experimental sessions). 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 7 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 1 Nov 2026.