Gamma OscillationsNCT07690865
Investigating the Effectiveness of Personalized Optimal Gamma Auditory Frequency Stimulation Intervention on Cognitive Function Enhancement
A study testing Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation and Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation in people with Gamma Oscillations and Healthy Adults, run by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate whether personalized gamma-frequency auditory stimulation enhances cognitive function and brain synchronization. While 40 Hz auditory stimulation has been widely studied, recent evidence suggests optimal frequencies vary by individual. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Gamma Oscillations, Healthy Adults, Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
- What is being tested?
- Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation and Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- Aug 2026to Dec 2027
- 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 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 to 40 years old.
- The Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) score is within normal ranges adjusted for age and education.
- Participants have no history of severe neurological or psychiatric disorders (such as stroke, epilepsy, depression, migraine, etc.) that could affect cognitive function.
- Participants have not used drugs that may affect cognitive function (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergic medications, etc.).
- Participants with normal or corrected vision (e.g., glasses or contact lenses) to normal levels.
- Auditory stimuli induce significant neural entrainment.
- Self-reported normal hearing
Who cannot join
- Participants enrolled in any cognitive enhancement study within the past two months.
- Participants with a history of disease that could affect cognitive function (e.g., cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc.).
- Individuals with tinnitus or hyperacusis
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Taiwan1 site
Chang Gung University
Taoyuan, Guishan, 33302
Chia-Hsiung Cheng, Ph.D., +886-3-211800 ext. 3854, ch.cheng@mail.cgu.edu.tw
About this study
Official title: Investigating the Effectiveness of Personalized Optimal Gamma Auditory Frequency Stimulation Intervention on Cognitive Function Enhancement: An Intervention Study
This study aims to evaluate whether personalized gamma-frequency auditory stimulation enhances cognitive function and brain synchronization. While 40 Hz auditory stimulation has been widely studied, recent evidence suggests optimal frequencies vary by individual. Using a cross-over design with 20 healthy adults, the research compares "optimal" versus "non-optimal" frequencies over one-month intervention periods. Effectiveness is measured through EEG recordings and executive function tasks. The goal is to determine if personalized sensory intervention provides a more effective, non-invasive strategy for enhancing cognitive performance.
Read the detailed description
Previous studies have shown that 40-Hz gamma-band sensory stimulation can reduce Aβ and p-tau burden and improve memory performance in AD mouse models. However, findings from human studies remain inconsistent due to differences in intervention duration and stimulation protocols. Recent studies further suggest that the optimal frequency for inducing gamma-band neural entrainment varies across individuals. In addition, a pilot study conducted in our laboratory found that the optimal auditory stimulation frequency was not necessarily 40 Hz for all participants. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of optimal auditory frequency stimulation on cognitive performance and its relationship with electrophysiological changes measured by EEG.
The study will recruit 20 cognitively healthy adults. Participants who are willing to join the study will first undergo a screening session to determine whether they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria and whether auditory stimulation can induce significant neural entrainment. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will proceed to the intervention stage.
This study will adopt a crossover design. All participants will receive two stages of auditory stimulation intervention. Prior to the intervention, participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two experimental groups. One group will receive optimal auditory frequency stimulation during the first stage, while the other group will receive non-optimal auditory frequency stimulation (i.e., the frequency producing the weakest neural entrainment effect). Each group will include 10 participants. During the second intervention stage, the two groups will switch experimental conditions (optimal/non-optimal auditory frequency stimulation).
Each stage will last for one month, with stimulation lasts five days per week and one hour per day. After each intervention session, participants will complete an experimental log form to record adverse effects. A one-month washout period will be implemented between the two intervention stages.
EEG recordings will be conducted before and after each intervention stage, including resting-state EEG, optimal auditory stimulation EEG recordings, and cognitive tasks.
- Conditions
- Gamma Oscillations, Healthy Adults, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimuli (GENUS)
- Being tested
- Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation, Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation
- Keywords
- Gamma stimulation, Alzheimer's disease, EEG, cognitive function, intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Alzheimer Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulationDevice
Participants will receive personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation using our app downloaded in the mobile device to play the sound for 1 hour per day, 5 days a week, over 1 month.
Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulationDevice
Participants will receive non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation using our app downloaded in the mobile device to play the sound for 1 hour per day, 5 days a week, over 1 month.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation | Experimental | The patient receives personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation at home for 1 month, 5 days per week, and 1 hour per day. The stimulation frequency is selected based on the frequency that produces the strongest neural entrainment. Receives: Device: Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation |
| Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation | Active comparator | The patient receives non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation at home for 1 month, 5 days per week, and 1 hour per day. The stimulation frequency is selected based on the frequency that produces the weakest neural entrainment. Receives: Device: Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
changes in neurophysiological function
EEG oscillation within the gamma band obtained during resting-state and the periods of optimal and non-optimal auditory stimulation will be analyzed to evaluate and compare the neurophysiological changes.
Measured: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)
changes in working memory performance
Behavioral performance and electrophysiological activity will be evaluated via a working memory task.
Measured: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)
changes in inhibitory control performance
Behavioral performance and electrophysiological activity will be evaluated via an inhibitory control task.
Measured: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jul 2026
- Study startAug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionSep 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Gamma OscillationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chang Gung Memorial HospitalThe 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
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07690865
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 202600632A3
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Jul 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 16 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigating the Effectiveness of Personalized Optimal Gamma Auditory Frequency Stimulation Intervention on Cognitive Function Enhancement: An Intervention Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07690865
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 202600632A3
- Conditions
- Gamma Oscillations, Healthy Adults, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimuli (GENUS)
- Keywords
- Gamma stimulation, Alzheimer's disease, EEG, cognitive function, intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chang Gung Memorial HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Jul 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 evaluate whether personalized gamma-frequency auditory stimulation enhances cognitive function and brain synchronization. While 40 Hz auditory stimulation has been widely studied, recent evidence suggests optimal frequencies vary by individual. Using a cross-over design with 20 healthy adults, the research compares "optimal" versus "non-optimal" frequencies over one-month intervention periods. Effectiveness is measured through EEG recordings and executive function tasks. The goal is to determine if personalized sensory intervention provides a more effective, non-invasive strategy for enhancing cognitive performance.
Detailed description
Previous studies have shown that 40-Hz gamma-band sensory stimulation can reduce Aβ and p-tau burden and improve memory performance in AD mouse models. However, findings from human studies remain inconsistent due to differences in intervention duration and stimulation protocols. Recent studies further suggest that the optimal frequency for inducing gamma-band neural entrainment varies across individuals. In addition, a pilot study conducted in our laboratory found that the optimal auditory stimulation frequency was not necessarily 40 Hz for all participants. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of optimal auditory frequency stimulation on cognitive performance and its relationship with electrophysiological changes measured by EEG.
The study will recruit 20 cognitively healthy adults. Participants who are willing to join the study will first undergo a screening session to determine whether they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria and whether auditory stimulation can induce significant neural entrainment. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will proceed to the intervention stage.
This study will adopt a crossover design. All participants will receive two stages of auditory stimulation intervention. Prior to the intervention, participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two experimental groups. One group will receive optimal auditory frequency stimulation during the first stage, while the other group will receive non-optimal auditory frequency stimulation (i.e., the frequency producing the weakest neural entrainment effect). Each group will include 10 participants. During the second intervention stage, the two groups will switch experimental conditions (optimal/non-optimal auditory frequency stimulation).
Each stage will last for one month, with stimulation lasts five days per week and one hour per day. After each intervention session, participants will complete an experimental log form to record adverse effects. A one-month washout period will be implemented between the two intervention stages.
EEG recordings will be conducted before and after each intervention stage, including resting-state EEG, optimal auditory stimulation EEG recordings, and cognitive tasks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation | Experimental | Device: Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulationThe patient receives personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation at home for 1 month, 5 days per week, and 1 hour per day. The stimulation frequency is selected based on the frequency that produces the strongest neural entrainment. |
| Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation | Active comparator | Device: Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulationThe patient receives non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation at home for 1 month, 5 days per week, and 1 hour per day. The stimulation frequency is selected based on the frequency that produces the weakest neural entrainment. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age between 18 to 40 years old.
- The Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) score is within normal ranges adjusted for age and education.
- Participants have no history of severe neurological or psychiatric disorders (such as stroke, epilepsy, depression, migraine, etc.) that could affect cognitive function.
- Participants have not used drugs that may affect cognitive function (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergic medications, etc.).
- Participants with normal or corrected vision (e.g., glasses or contact lenses) to normal levels.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Participants enrolled in any cognitive enhancement study within the past two months.
- Participants with a history of disease that could affect cognitive function (e.g., cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc.).
- Individuals with tinnitus or hyperacusis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulationParticipants will receive personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation using our app downloaded in the mobile device to play the sound for 1 hour per day, 5 days a week, over 1 month. | Device | Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation |
| Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulationParticipants will receive non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation using our app downloaded in the mobile device to play the sound for 1 hour per day, 5 days a week, over 1 month. | Device | Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation |
Primary outcome
changes in neurophysiological function
Time frame: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)
EEG oscillation within the gamma band obtained during resting-state and the periods of optimal and non-optimal auditory stimulation will be analyzed to evaluate and compare the neurophysiological changes.
changes in working memory performance
Time frame: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)
Behavioral performance and electrophysiological activity will be evaluated via a working memory task.
changes in inhibitory control performance
Time frame: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)
Behavioral performance and electrophysiological activity will be evaluated via an inhibitory control 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 16 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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Personalized optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation and Non-optimal gamma auditory frequency stimulation in people with Gamma Oscillations and Healthy Adults, run by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.
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 7 inclusion and 3 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 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 Taiwan. 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?
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 Chia-Hsiung Cheng, Ph.D. (+886-3-211800 ext. 3854, ch.cheng@mail.cgu.edu.tw), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
changes in neurophysiological function (time frame: Stage 1 baseline (T1), post one-month intervention of stage 1 (T2), stage 2 baseline (T3), post one-month intervention of stage 2 (T4)). The study lists 3 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 16 Jul 2026.