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Computer exercises may retrain the brain to fight depression

NCT ID NCT01454141

Symptom relief Sponsor: Boston University Charles River Campus Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 17, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a computer-based program called cognitive control training (CCT) can help people with depression feel less negative mood and rumination. Participants with high depression scores complete three sessions of CCT or a comparison task over two weeks. The goal is to see if strengthening attention and executive control through repeated exercises can improve emotional well-being.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
computer-based cognitive control training
What this could lead to
If effective, this approach could offer a non-drug, brain-training method to help people with depression manage negative thoughts and improve mood.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only three sessions of training over two weeks, so any benefits may be short-lived or not apply to everyone with depression.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

56 people

The number who actually took part.

Start date

Jul 2010

Finished

Jun 2011

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 65 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * BU students and local community members. * At least 18 years of age. * Familiarity with a computer keyboard. * BDI-II score ≥ 17 Exclusion Criteria: * BDI-II score \< 17, or \> 35

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Consciousness Disorders Depression depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Depression

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Boston University

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

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