Zapping the brain with gentle electricity may reveal hidden signs of consciousness
NCT ID NCT07699055
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether a 20-minute session of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the front of the brain can alter brain wave patterns in people with disorders of consciousness, such as unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimally conscious state. Participants receive a single session of 40 Hz tACS while their brain activity is recorded with EEG before and after. The goal is to see if the stimulation changes specific brain wave patterns and whether those changes relate to behavioral signs of consciousness.
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 point toward a way to measure and potentially improve consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 31 participants. It tests a single session, so any effects may be temporary or not clinically meaningful.
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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
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Locations
-
Medipol Mega University Hospital
Istanbul, Bağcılar, Turkey (Türkiye)
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