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Location- and Frequency-Dependent Effects of Thalamic Temporal Interference Stimulation During Sleep

University of Wisconsin, Madison · with National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NCT07498270

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–40 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
24
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
June 5, 2026
Record last updated
August 10, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

This study is to find out whether a type of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation called temporal interference transcranial electrical stimulation (TI-TES) can temporarily change brain activity during sleep, especially sleep spindles (brain rhythms in the \~8-16 Hz range). Up to 24 healthy participants in Dane County, Wisconsin will be enrolled for 3 overnight study visits. Participants can expect to be on study for approximately 5 weeks, depending on scheduling availability.

Being studied: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Broad thalamic stimulation (TI-TES); Carrier only SHAM stimulation; Anterior thalamic stimulation (TI-TES); Posterior thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)

Conditions: Healthy Adult Participants; Healthy Participants

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Medically healthy (based on self-report and study team review)
  • U.S. citizen or holding permanent resident status
  • English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)

Exclusion Criteria

  • Any current or past history of neurological disorders or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions (including clinically significant findings identified in first MRI)
  • History of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
  • History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness; or a history of greater than 3 grade I concussions
  • Current history of poorly controlled headaches including intractable or poorly controlled migraines
  • Any systemic illness or unstable medical condition that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
  • History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG, or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy except for a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
  • Possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months (self reported)
  • Any metal in the head
  • Any medical devices or implants (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator)
  • Dental implants
  • Permanent retainers
  • Any hair braid, dreadlocks, hair pieces, or extensions which cannot be taken out before the study sessions
  • Any head coverings or headdress that participant feels uncomfortable removing for the purposes of study sessions
  • Any medication that may alter seizure threshold taken during the study i.e., ADHD stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine); Tricyclic/atypical antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepine, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, bupropion); SSRIs (Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Sertraline); Antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, clozapine), Bronchodilators (theophylline, aminophylline); Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, imipenem, penicillin, cephalosporins, metronidazole, isoniazid); Antivirals (valacyclovir, ritonavir); OTC antihistamines (diphenhydramine, Benadryl)
  • Claustrophobia (a fear of small or closed places)
  • Back problems that would prevent lying flat for up to two hours
  • Regular night-shift work (second or third shift)
  • Sleep apnea or other sleep disorder (self-reported)

Recruiting US locations

  • Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness

    Madison, WI 53719

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Sean Prahl · 608-263-4313 · capti@psychiatry.wisc.edu
All sleep studies in Wisconsin →
Location- and Frequency-Dependent Effects of Thalamic Temporal… (NCT07498270) | Bored Studies