Scientists use mild brain stimulation to unlock secrets of memory

NCT ID NCT05923606

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

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a noninvasive technique called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can change brain rhythms linked to working memory. Thirty-two healthy adults will receive either active or placebo tACS while performing memory tasks. Researchers will use EEG to measure brain activity, aiming to understand how theta and gamma rhythms interact during memory retrieval.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could reveal how brain rhythms support memory, pointing toward future noninvasive treatments for memory problems.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not a treatment trial. It aims to understand brain function, not to improve memory directly.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

WORKING MEMORY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
RECRUITING

Charlestown, Massachusetts, 02129, United States

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