What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Common side effects of neuromodulation treatments for working memory, such as tACS, TMS, and tDCS, are generally mild and transient. They may include sensations of warmth, tingling, itching, redness at the stimulation site, and mild headaches. More serious adverse events are rare, but TMS should be used cautiously in individuals with epilepsy due to a potential risk of triggering seizures. Overall, these treatments are considered safe with proper medical supervision.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

The FDA has approved several neuromodulation techniques and drugs for cognitive enhancement and related conditions, though specific approvals for working memory are limited. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one such technique, approved for treatment-resistant depression and showing promise in cognitive enhancement. Additionally, drugs like donepezil and galantamine, primarily used for Alzheimer's disease, have been explored for their potential benefits on cognitive functions, including working memory. However, traveling wave transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is still under investigation and not yet FDA-approved for working memory enhancement.

What other types of research exist?

Promising alternatives to Traveling Wave Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for working memory patients include: 1) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which has shown efficacy in improving cognitive functions and reducing functional disability in various conditions. 2) Transcutaneous Supraorbital Nerve Stimulation, which has demonstrated benefits in reducing migraine days and could potentially be explored for cognitive enhancement. 3) Remote Electrical Neuromodulation, which has been effective in reducing acute migraine pain and may have applications in neuromodulation for cognitive functions.

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Transcranial Electric Stimulation

Brain Stimulation for Improving Working Memory (TravelingTES Trial)

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Ivan Alekseichuk, PhD

Research Sponsored by University of Minnesota

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Age between 18 and 45 years old

Be between 18 and 65 years old

Must not have

History of head injuries with loss of consciousness

Metal or electric implant in the head, neck, or chest area

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up immediate effect during stimulation

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will test if applying weak electrical currents to the scalp can improve memory in adults by creating moving waves in brain activity. The technique has been studied for its potential to enhance memory and other cognitive functions.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults aged 18-45 with a good grasp of English. It's not suitable for those with chronic neurological or mental disorders, head injuries causing unconsciousness, ongoing medical conditions needing drugs, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, substance addicts, or people with metal/electric implants in the upper body.

What is being tested?

The study is testing how traveling-wave transcranial electric stimulation (tACS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, affects working memory performance in healthy adults.

What are the potential side effects?

Possible side effects of tACS may include mild headaches, itching or tingling at the electrode sites during stimulation. More serious risks are rare but can include seizures and other neurological symptoms.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I am between 18 and 45 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

Select...

I have had a head injury that made me lose consciousness.

Select...

I have a metal or electric implant in my head, neck, or chest.

Select...

I am on long-term medication for a health condition.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ immediate effect during stimulation

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~immediate effect during stimulation

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and immediate effect during stimulation for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Changes in working memory performance

Secondary study objectives

Changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) connectivity

Changes in reaction time

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

4Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Parietofrontal Slow Theta StimulationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive multi-electrode transcranial alternating current stimulation over the prefrontal and parietal brain regions that induces parietal-to-frontal traveling wave at the frequency of 4 Hz with the intensity of up to 2 mA and duration up to 20 min.

Group II: Parietofrontal Fast Theta StimulationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive multi-electrode transcranial alternating current stimulation over the prefrontal and parietal brain regions that induces parietal-to-frontal traveling wave at the frequency of 7 Hz with the intensity of up to 2 mA and duration up to 20 min.

Group III: Frontoparietal Slow Theta StimulationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive multi-electrode transcranial alternating current stimulation over the prefrontal and parietal brain regions that induces frontal-to-parietal traveling wave at the frequency of 4 Hz with the intensity of up to 2 mA and duration up to 20 min.

Group IV: Frontoparietal Fast Theta StimulationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive multi-electrode transcranial alternating current stimulation over the prefrontal and parietal brain regions that induces frontal-to-parietal traveling wave at the frequency of 7 Hz with the intensity of up to 2 mA and duration up to 20 min.

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)

2020

N/A

~20

0 / 4Eligibility criteria met

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Treatments for working memory, such as traveling wave transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), work by modulating neural activity through the application of electrical currents to the brain. This modulation can enhance or inhibit neuronal firing patterns, improving synaptic plasticity and connectivity in brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, which are critical for working memory. For patients, these mechanisms are important as they offer potential improvements in cognitive functions, thereby enhancing their ability to perform daily tasks and improving overall quality of life.