Scientists probe brain waves to unlock secrets of touch
NCT ID NCT04062318
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how certain brain rhythms (beta waves) influence our ability to feel touch. Researchers used brain scans, EEG, and mild magnetic pulses in 39 healthy adults to see if changing these rhythms could alter touch perception. The goal was to better understand the brain's role in sensing the world, not to treat any disease.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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39 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2019
- Finished
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Nov 2024
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Ability to provide informed consent/assent * Age: 18-65 years * English fluency: participants must be able to understand screening questionnaires and task instructions spoken/written in English. * Right handed: to reduce heterogeneity related to hand dominance, since our task involves touch perception on the hand, and examination of neural correlates in lateralized brain regions. Exclusion Criteria: * History of fainting spells of unknown or undetermined etiology that might constitute seizures * History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, or immediate (1st degree relative) family history epilepsy * Any progressive (e.g., neurodegenerative) neurological disorder * Chronic medical conditions that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.) * Metal implants (excluding dental fillings) * Pacemaker * Implanted medication pump or cochlear implant * Vagal nerve stimulator * Deep brain stimulator * TENS unit (unless removed completely for the study) * Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt * Signs of increased intracranial pressure * Intracranial lesion * History of head injury resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness * Pregnancy * Participants who have received prior TMS for medical treatment purposes. * Intellectual Disability or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) * Active psychosis, diagnosis of unipolar depression or bipolar disorder, active severe substance use disorders (within the last month), or active suicidal intent or ideations. * Conditions that may result in the inability to effectively carry out the tactile detection task, including loss of feeling, neuropathy or nerve damage in the hands or feet, chronic pain or fibromyalgia, and pain due to cancer, infection or arthritis. * If the participant is actively taking any of the medications that increase risk from TMS as indicated below, of if they have ingested any alcohol or any other drugs of abuse (see https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse) on the day of the study session (prior to the session). Contraindicated medications: alcohol Amitriptyline Amphetamines ampicillin Anticholinergics Antihistamines aripiprazole BCNU \*\*bupropion\*\* cephalosporins chlorambucil chloroquine Chlorpromazine citalopram Clozapine Cocaine cyclosporine cytosine arabinoside Doxepine duloxetine fluoxetine fluphenazine fluvoxamine Foscarnet gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) Ganciclovir haloperidol imipenem Imipramine isoniazid ketamine levofloxacin Lithium Maprotiline MDMA (ecstasy) mefloquine methotrexate metronidazole mianserin mirtazapine Nortriptyline olanzapine paroxetine penicillin phencyclidine (PCP, angel's dust) pimozide quetiapine reboxetine risperidone Ritonavir \*\*Sertraline\*\* Sympathomimetic theophylline venlafaxine vincristine ziprasidone
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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
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Brown University, Carney Institute for Brain Science Human Testing Space (HuTS)
Providence, Rhode Island, 02906, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.