Brain zaps show promise for ADHD focus

NCT ID NCT04175028

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a mild electrical current applied to the scalp (tDCS) could temporarily improve attention and self-control in adults with ADHD. 83 people, including those with ADHD and healthy volunteers, completed tasks measuring focus and decision-making while receiving the stimulation. The goal was to see if this non-invasive technique could help the brain work better in the short term.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a non-drug method to temporarily boost attention and impulse control in people with ADHD.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study testing only short-term effects. The results may not lead to a practical treatment, and tDCS effects can vary widely between individuals.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, inattentive type attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02129, United States

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