Could flickering lights and tones ease schizophrenia?

NCT ID NCT07342465

Not yet recruiting Symptom relief Sponsor: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early study tests whether a device that delivers synchronized 40 Hz light and sound (called GENUS) is safe and feasible for people with schizophrenia. The goal is to see if this at-home stimulation can improve brain rhythms, thinking, and symptoms that current medications don't fully address. Twenty participants will receive one hour of stimulation and undergo brain scans and cognitive tests.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) device delivering synchronized 40 Hz light and sound
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a safe, at-home treatment to ease cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia that current drugs often miss.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small trial (20 people) focused on safety and feasibility, not proof of effectiveness. The benefits seen may not hold up in larger studies.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

schizoaffective disorder schizophrenia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, United States

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