Cortico-cortical Paired Associative StimulationNCT07431749
The Use of Dual-coil Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Measure and Modulate Poststroke Interhemispheric Inhibition.
A study testing Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation in people with Cortico-cortical Paired Associative Stimulation, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 2 sites in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
Objectives: This project will (1) establish the test-retest reliability of a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) measure and (2) validate it against the TMS-EMG-based IHI measure (the gold standard). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cortico-cortical Paired Associative Stimulation
- What is being tested?
- Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesHong Kong
- Study dates
- 15 Jul 2026to 1 Jun 2029
- 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 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- (1) have a diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, with time after stroke onset≥6 months. For stroke patients, we will invite participants to receive a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience to verify their actual lesion location; (2) aged between 18 and 80 years old; (3) with residual upper limb functions from 4-7 levels in the Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (Hong Kong version); (4) have evocable MEP from both M1; (5) able to give informed written consent to participate in the study. (6) able to understand and communicate with Chinese.
Who cannot join
- any contraindications to TMS (screened by the safety checklist by Rossi); (2) any concomitant neurological disease; (3) any sign of moderate-to-severe cognitive problems, i.e., the abbreviated mental test Hong Kong version<6 out of 10 points [22]; and (4) Modified Ashworth score>2 in hand, wrist or elbow extensor muscle in their hemiparetic upper limbs.
- In addition, a group of right-hand-dominant healthy adults, without any known neurological and psychiatric diseases, will be enrolled.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong
- Not yet recruiting
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong
JIAQI JACK Zhang, PhD, 27666696, jack-jiaqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk
About this study
Official title: Using Dual-coil Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Measure and Modulate Poststroke Interhemispheric Inhibition (IHI): A Concurrent TMS-EEG-EMG Study
Objectives: This project will (1) establish the test-retest reliability of a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) measure and (2) validate it against the TMS-EMG-based IHI measure (the gold standard). It will also (3) compare effects of dual-coil cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (ccPAS) protocols with different interstimulus intervals (ISI) on this TMS-EEG-based IHI marker in poststroke patients. Methods: Study 1: IHI will be conducted in 20 stroke patients and 20 healthy counterparts using TMS-EEG and TMS-EMG; furthermore, both measures will be repeated after one week for test-retest reliability. Study 2: A randomized-crossover trial where 20 stroke patients undergo a single-session ccPAS in three separate visits (ISI: 8ms: LTD-like, 12ms: LTP-like, 100ms: sham) to investigate the differential modulatory effects in IHI.
Read the detailed description
Objectives: This project will (1) establish the test-retest reliability of a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) measure and (2) validate it against the TMS-EMG-based IHI measure (the gold standard). It will also (3) compare effects of dual-coil cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (ccPAS) protocols with different interstimulus intervals (ISI) on this TMS-EEG-based IHI marker in poststroke patients. Methods: Study 1: IHI will be conducted in 20 stroke patients and 20 healthy counterparts using TMS-EEG and TMS-EMG; furthermore, both measures will be repeated after one week for test-retest reliability. Study 2: A randomized-crossover trial where 20 stroke patients undergo a single-session ccPAS in three separate visits (ISI: 8ms: LTD-like, 12ms: LTP-like, 100ms: sham) to investigate the differential modulatory effects in IHI.
- Being tested
- Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Keywords
- cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, stroke
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulationDevice
The ccPAS will be applied using a MagPro X100/R30 stimulator and a MagPro R20/R30 extension connected to two vertically oriented figure-of-eight coils designed for bilateral hemispheric stimulation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ccPAS (8ms) | Experimental | ccPAS session will involve 180 paired pulses repeated at a frequency of 0.2Hz (approximately 15 minutes), stimulating the ipsilesional M1 8ms after the first pulse over the contralesional M1, during premovement stage. Receives: Device: Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation |
| ccPAS (12ms) | Experimental | ccPAS session will involve 180 paired pulses repeated at a frequency of 0.2Hz (approximately 15 minutes), stimulating the ipsilesional M1 12ms after the first pulse over the contralesional M1, during premovement stage. Receives: Device: Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation |
| Sham ccPAS | Sham comparator | ccPAS session will involve 180 paired pulses repeated at a frequency of 0.2Hz (approximately 15 minutes), stimulating the ipsilesional M1 100ms after the first pulse over the contralesional M1, during premovement stage. Receives: Device: Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential in electroencephalography (TMS-EEG)
The amplitude of P30 (28-35ms) will be extracted from the artifact-free TEP trials to represent the cortical excitatory activity.
Measured: Baseline
Transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential in electroencephalography
The amplitude of P30 (28-35ms) will be extracted from the artifact-free TEP trials to represent the cortical excitatory activity.
Measured: After stimulation (15 mins post)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Feb 2026
- Study start15 Jul 2026
- Primary completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jun 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cortico-cortical Paired Associative StimulationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe 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
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07431749
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HSEARS20251026002
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Using Dual-coil Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Measure and Modulate Poststroke Interhemispheric Inhibition (IHI): A Concurrent TMS-EEG-EMG Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07431749
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HSEARS20251026002
- Keywords
- cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, stroke
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Feb 2026 (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.
Objectives: This project will (1) establish the test-retest reliability of a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) measure and (2) validate it against the TMS-EMG-based IHI measure (the gold standard). It will also (3) compare effects of dual-coil cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (ccPAS) protocols with different interstimulus intervals (ISI) on this TMS-EEG-based IHI marker in poststroke patients. Methods: Study 1: IHI will be conducted in 20 stroke patients and 20 healthy counterparts using TMS-EEG and TMS-EMG; furthermore, both measures will be repeated after one week for test-retest reliability. Study 2: A randomized-crossover trial where 20 stroke patients undergo a single-session ccPAS in three separate visits (ISI: 8ms: LTD-like, 12ms: LTP-like, 100ms: sham) to investigate the differential modulatory effects in IHI.
Detailed description
Objectives: This project will (1) establish the test-retest reliability of a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) measure and (2) validate it against the TMS-EMG-based IHI measure (the gold standard). It will also (3) compare effects of dual-coil cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (ccPAS) protocols with different interstimulus intervals (ISI) on this TMS-EEG-based IHI marker in poststroke patients. Methods: Study 1: IHI will be conducted in 20 stroke patients and 20 healthy counterparts using TMS-EEG and TMS-EMG; furthermore, both measures will be repeated after one week for test-retest reliability. Study 2: A randomized-crossover trial where 20 stroke patients undergo a single-session ccPAS in three separate visits (ISI: 8ms: LTD-like, 12ms: LTP-like, 100ms: sham) to investigate the differential modulatory effects in IHI.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ccPAS (8ms) | Experimental | Device: Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulationccPAS session will involve 180 paired pulses repeated at a frequency of 0.2Hz (approximately 15 minutes), stimulating the ipsilesional M1 8ms after the first pulse over the contralesional M1, during premovement stage. |
| ccPAS (12ms) | Experimental | Device: Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulationccPAS session will involve 180 paired pulses repeated at a frequency of 0.2Hz (approximately 15 minutes), stimulating the ipsilesional M1 12ms after the first pulse over the contralesional M1, during premovement stage. |
| Sham ccPAS | Sham comparator | Device: Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulationccPAS session will involve 180 paired pulses repeated at a frequency of 0.2Hz (approximately 15 minutes), stimulating the ipsilesional M1 100ms after the first pulse over the contralesional M1, during premovement stage. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- (1) have a diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, with time after stroke onset≥6 months. For stroke patients, we will invite participants to receive a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience to verify their actual lesion location; (2) aged between 18 and 80 years old; (3) with residual upper limb functions from 4-7 levels in the Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (Hong Kong version); (4) have evocable MEP from both M1; (5) able to give informed written consent to participate in the study. (6) able to understand and communicate with Chinese.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- any contraindications to TMS (screened by the safety checklist by Rossi); (2) any concomitant neurological disease; (3) any sign of moderate-to-severe cognitive problems, i.e., the abbreviated mental test Hong Kong version<6 out of 10 points [22]; and (4) Modified Ashworth score>2 in hand, wrist or elbow extensor muscle in their hemiparetic upper limbs.
- In addition, a group of right-hand-dominant healthy adults, without any known neurological and psychiatric diseases, will be enrolled.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulationThe ccPAS will be applied using a MagPro X100/R30 stimulator and a MagPro R20/R30 extension connected to two vertically oriented figure-of-eight coils designed for bilateral hemispheric stimulation. | Device | Sham ccPAS, ccPAS (12ms), ccPAS (8ms) |
Primary outcome
transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential in electroencephalography (TMS-EEG)
Time frame: Baseline
The amplitude of P30 (28-35ms) will be extracted from the artifact-free TEP trials to represent the cortical excitatory activity.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential in electroencephalography
Time frame: After stimulation (15 mins post)
The amplitude of P30 (28-35ms) will be extracted from the artifact-free TEP trials to represent the cortical excitatory activity.
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 24 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Cortico-cortical Paired Associative Stimulation
Recruiting
Cerebellum-Prefrontal Paired-Pulse Stimulation for Methamphetamine Use Disorder
Methamphetamine Use Disorder
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.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dual coil transcranial magnetic stimulation in people with Cortico-cortical Paired Associative Stimulation, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 2 sites in Hong Kong.
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 2 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 24 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Hong Kong. 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 JIAQI JACK Zhang, PhD (27666696, jack-jiaqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential in electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) (time frame: Baseline). 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 24 Aug 2026.