Non-invasive Stimulation of Deep Brain Structures to Modulate Working Memory

NCT07560904 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: NW25-04-00142
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A study investigating the effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation of deep brain structures on working memory, attention, and executive functions involved in everyday activities. Currently, there is no effective treatment for impairments in these functions. The study will evaluate the effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation in both healthy older adults and individuals with mild impairment of these functions. The study combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with non-invasive brain stimulation targeting deep brain structures. Its aim is to improve understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying these cognitive functions and their impairments, as well as to explore the mechanisms of non-invasive brain stimulation for potential future therapeutic applications.

Conditions

Older Adults (60 - 85 Years Old); Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The neural underpinning of NIBS-induced changes quantified by task-fMRI activations

  During intervention ( approximately 10 minutes)

• The neural underpinning of NIBS-induced changes quantified by network-based analytical approaches.

  During intervention ( approximately 10 minutes)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Working memory performance - Reaction times

  During intervention (approx 10 minutes)

• Working memory parformance - Accuracy

  During intervention ( approximately 10 minutes)

Study Arms (3)

20 Hz striatal stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Striatum will be targeted by using two pairs of high-frequency tES with a low-frequency offset (20 Hz), creating an interference hotspot targeting the deep brain structure (deep-tES).

Other: Non-invasive deep brain stimulation of striatum via transcranial temporal interference stimulation (20 Hz)

60 Hz striatal stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Striatum will be targeted by using two pairs of high-frequency tES with a low-frequency offset (60 Hz), creating an interference hotspot targeting the deep brain structure (deep-tES).

Other: Non-invasive deep brain stimulation of striatum via transcranial temporal interference stimulation (60 Hz)

Sham striatal stimulation

SHAM COMPARATOR

Striatum will be targeted by using two pairs of high-frequency tES with no low-frequency offset. The stimulation will be applied only shortly and turned off after ramp-up and ramp-down period.

Other: Control striatal stimulation

Interventions

Control striatal stimulation OTHER

A high-frequency tES without low-frequency offset. It will consist of two oscillatory high-frequency currents without any frequency shifts, which induces similar skin sensations as deep-tES and will be applied just for a ramp-up/ramp-down phases at the beginning of the stimulation and afterwards will be switched off.

Sham striatal stimulation

Non-invasive deep brain stimulation of striatum via transcranial temporal interference stimulation (20 Hz) OTHER

Striatum will be targeted by using at least two pairs of high-frequency tES with a low-frequency (20 Hz) offset, creating an interference hotspot targeting the deep brain structure (deep-tES).

20 Hz striatal stimulation

Non-invasive deep brain stimulation of striatum via transcranial temporal interference stimulation (60 Hz) OTHER

Striatum will be targeted by using at least two pairs of high-frequency tES with a low-frequency (60 Hz) offset, creating an interference hotspot targeting the deep brain structure (deep-tES).

60 Hz striatal stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• normal cognitive performance as assessed by a cognitive screening for healthy subjects
• possible or probable MCI-LB or with PD-MCI, collectively called MCI-LBD, described as: presence of PD , and level II criteria for MCI (i.e. based on comprehensive neuropsychological examination), or the level II criteria for MCI , and at least two of four core DLB features including parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, attention/cognitive function fluctuation, and REM sleep behavioral disorder, or at least 1 core clinical feature and 1 indicative biomarker (probable MCI-LB).

You may not qualify if:

• Psychiatric disorders including major depression, major vascular lesions, or other brain pathologies that might present with cognitive decline.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Masaryk University: lead

Study Sites (1)

CEITEC Masaryk University

Brno, 612 00, Czechia

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Monika Pupíková

CONTACT

+420549498818; monika.pupikova@ceitec.muni.cz

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: prof. Irena Rektorová MD, Ph.D.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2026
• First Posted: May 1, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CZ (1)