Zapping the brain to understand schizophrenia: small study tests TMS on attention and cravings
NCT ID NCT07190352
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This completed study tested whether targeted brain stimulation (TMS) could affect attention and nicotine cravings in 15 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who smoke. Researchers applied different types of TMS to a brain network linked to attention and measured changes in brain connectivity and craving levels. The goal was to understand how brain networks work in schizophrenia, not to provide a new treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help researchers understand how brain networks affect attention and cravings in schizophrenia, potentially guiding future treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-stage study with only 15 participants. It was designed to explore brain activity, not to test a treatment, so results may not lead to any direct benefit.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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