Cognitive ControlSTIMNCT07468279
Synchronization of Theta to Influence Memory
A study testing STARSTIM Device in-phase and STARSTIM Device anti-phase in people with Cognitive Control and Memory, run by Florida International University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study aims to clarify relations between brain oscillations and two cognitive functions: cognitive control and memory. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 59 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cognitive Control, Memory
- What is being tested?
- STARSTIM Device in-phase and STARSTIM Device anti-phase
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Mar 2026to Jan 2031
- 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 59 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years and older
- Fluent in English
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Willing to be photographed
Who cannot join
- Must not have ever had an injury to the head that's caused you to be knocked out for a period of time (e.g., from a fall, blow to the head, road traffic accident).
- Must not have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with your ability to see stimuli presented briefly on a computer screen or click a mouse button rapidly.
- Must not have a history of epilepsy, convulsions, or seizures (except childhood febrile seizures).
- Must not have a history of fainting or syncope.
- For female participants, they must not be pregnant and/or must not think they might be pregnant.
- Must not have skin problems like eczema, dermatitis, or open wounds on the scalp.
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- Must not have had prior brain surgery.
- Must not have any metal located in the head/neck (except for dental work i.e., braces, permanent retainers, etc.)
- Must not have any devices or other implants located in/near their head. This includes cochlear implants and aneurysm clips, cardiac pacemaker, or any other implanted electronic device.
- Must not have a current (active) alcohol or substance use disorder, must have no recent history of withdrawal symptoms, and must be able to safely abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed/illicit drugs for at least 24 hours before the session.
- Must not have any alcohol on the day of the session, must limit alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks (if legally permitted) in the prior 24 hours, and must not use any non-prescribed or illicit drugs in the 24 hours before the session.
- Must not be sick with a fever, sleep-deprived, or feel dizzy, unwell, or intoxicated.
- Must also have eaten and had fluids but not have consumed more caffeine than they typically consume.
- Must not be taking anticonvulsant/anti-epileptic drugs or have ever taken them within their lifetime.
- Must not be taking benzodiazepines or have taken them within the past 3 months.
- Must not have had a recent change (start, stop, dose change) for any psychiatric/psychotropic medications within the past 3 months.
- Must not be taking Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, etc.), Antipsychotics (clozapine; chlorpromazine, haloperidol, etc.), or Tramadol or have taken them within the past 3 months.
- Must not have experienced cardiac problems, fibrillation, or have taken medications associated with cardiac conditions within the past 3 months.
- Must not meet the diagnostic threshold for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, or Psychotic Disorders.
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
Florida International University
Miami, Florida, 33199
George Buzzell, 305-348-2868, gbuzzell@fiu.edu
About this study
Official title: Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Task Performance
This study aims to clarify relations between brain oscillations and two cognitive functions: cognitive control and memory.
- Conditions
- Cognitive Control, Memory
- Being tested
- Sham device, STARSTIM Device in-phase, STARSTIM Device anti-phase
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sham deviceDevice
Intervention which uses an inactive form of stimulation via electrodes on the scalp.
STARSTIM Device in-phaseDevice
Intervention that uses the Starstim tES device to introduce transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the form of in-phase theta (~3.5 to ~7.5 Hz) via electrodes on the scalp.
STARSTIM Device anti-phaseDevice
Intervention that uses the Starstim tES device to introduce transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the form of anti-phase stimulation via electrodes on the scalp.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sham Stimulation | Sham comparator | Participants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment. Receives: Device: Sham device |
| STARSTIM device treatment (in-phase theta) | Experimental | Participants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment. Receives: Device: STARSTIM Device in-phase |
| STARSTIM device treatment (anti-phase stimulation) | Experimental | Participants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment. Receives: Device: STARSTIM Device anti-phase |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Difference Between Incidental Memory of Faces on Error versus Correct Trials from Baseline to Post Brain Stimulation
The hit rate for faces that appeared on error trials minus the hit rate for faces that appeared on correct trials.
Measured: Baseline through study visit completion, a maximum of 3 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Mar 2026
- Study start13 Mar 2026
- Primary completionJan 2031 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cognitive ControlStudies 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
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Florida International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, George Buzzell, PhD, Florida International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07468279
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-25-0555
- Acronym
- STIM
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Task Performance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07468279
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STIM / IRB-25-0555
- Conditions
- Cognitive Control, Memory
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Florida International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jan 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jan 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Mar 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.
This study aims to clarify relations between brain oscillations and two cognitive functions: cognitive control and memory.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sham Stimulation | Sham comparator | Device: Sham deviceParticipants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment. |
| STARSTIM device treatment (in-phase theta) | Experimental | Device: STARSTIM Device in-phaseParticipants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment. |
| STARSTIM device treatment (anti-phase stimulation) | Experimental | Device: STARSTIM Device anti-phaseParticipants will be randomized to receive an active STARSTIM treatment or sham treatment. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 59 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 18 years and older
- Fluent in English
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Willing to be photographed
Key exclusion criteria (19 listed)
- Must not have ever had an injury to the head that's caused you to be knocked out for a period of time (e.g., from a fall, blow to the head, road traffic accident).
- Must not have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with your ability to see stimuli presented briefly on a computer screen or click a mouse button rapidly.
- Must not have a history of epilepsy, convulsions, or seizures (except childhood febrile seizures).
- Must not have a history of fainting or syncope.
- For female participants, they must not be pregnant and/or must not think they might be pregnant.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sham deviceIntervention which uses an inactive form of stimulation via electrodes on the scalp. | Device | Sham Stimulation |
| STARSTIM Device in-phaseIntervention that uses the Starstim tES device to introduce transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the form of in-phase theta (~3.5 to ~7.5 Hz) via electrodes on the scalp. | Device | STARSTIM device treatment (in-phase theta) |
| STARSTIM Device anti-phaseIntervention that uses the Starstim tES device to introduce transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the form of anti-phase stimulation via electrodes on the scalp. | Device | STARSTIM device treatment (anti-phase stimulation) |
Primary outcome
The Difference Between Incidental Memory of Faces on Error versus Correct Trials from Baseline to Post Brain Stimulation
Time frame: Baseline through study visit completion, a maximum of 3 hours
The hit rate for faces that appeared on error trials minus the hit rate for faces that appeared on correct trials.
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 27 Aug 2026.
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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 STARSTIM Device in-phase and STARSTIM Device anti-phase in people with Cognitive Control and Memory, run by Florida International 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 4 inclusion and 19 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 27 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 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?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Difference Between Incidental Memory of Faces on Error versus Correct Trials from Baseline to Post Brain Stimulation (time frame: Baseline through study visit completion, a maximum of 3 hours). 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 27 Aug 2026.