Zapping the brain without surgery: new method tested
NCT ID NCT07215299
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests a new, non-invasive brain stimulation technique called temporal interference (TI) that uses scalp electrodes to safely reach deep brain regions without affecting the surface. Researchers will measure brain activity changes in 30 healthy volunteers using fMRI. The goal is to understand how deep brain structures control thinking and behavior, and to lay the groundwork for future treatments for conditions like addiction and Parkinson's disease.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Temporal Interference (TI) Electrical Stimulation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could validate a safe, non-invasive way to stimulate deep brain regions, potentially leading to new treatments for addiction, OCD, and Parkinson's disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage study in 30 healthy volunteers, not patients. It only measures brain activity changes, not clinical benefits, and may not translate into effective treatments.
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
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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- 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
-
18 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: * Between the ages of 18 and 50 * Must have at least a 6th grade education * Ability to speak and read English for all phases Exclusion Criteria: * Currently taking psychotropic medications for ADHD, other mental illness, or medications for cancer * History of epilepsy or seizure disorders * History of migraines or other neurological syndromes * History of AIDS (due to potential cognitive deficits) * History of head trauma or cognitive impairments * Personal experiences consistent with symptoms of psychosis (e.g., hallucinations, delusions of control or special powers) * History of skull defects (e.g., holes bored into the skull or known cranial fissures) * Metal implants in the head or under the scalp * Does not meet fMRI safety screening criteria (e.g., metal implants in the body, permanent jewelry, tattoos on the head or neck) * Uses an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control and cannot provide documentation to verify MRI safety * Pregnancy (self-reported; no pregnancy test administered) * Weight over 440 lbs (scanner weight limit) * Presence of pacemakers
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Indiana University Bloomington, Imaging Research Facility
Bloomington, Indiana, 47408, United States
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