Actively Recruiting
Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation as a Potential Intervention for Cognitive Decline
Led by University of Texas at Austin · Updated on 2026-04-29
180
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
230 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical study is to investigate the effectiveness of non-invasive stimulation to enhance cognitive control abilities in cognitively healthy adults and older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive disorder (MCI). The main questions it aims to answer are: * whether it is possible to restore various cognitive functions in older adults diagnosed with MCI by delivering theta burst stimulation (TBS), a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, and * whether closed-loop TBS is able to induce therapeutic benefits that outperform open-loop TBS. Participants play a cognitive video game while a brain-computer interface (BCI) analyzes their electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and decodes the presence or absence of the contingent negative variation (CNV) potential, a marker of cognitive control. The BCI triggers TBS when its outputs indicate that the participant is not engaged properly in the video game. Researchers will compare the effects of sham, closed-loop, and open-loop TBS using the outcome metrics described below to see how much cognitive restorations is achievable with each stimulation modality.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation as a Potential Intervention for Cognitive Decline
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Cognitively normal younger adults aged 18 to 35 years
- Cognitively normal older adults aged 60 to 90 years
- Older adults with mild cognitive impairment aged 60 to 90 years
- Participants must be in good general health
- Normal or corrected vision
- Completed elementary school education or able to understand middle school level instructions
- Cognitively normal older adults must score 23 or higher on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- Older adults with MCI must have a diagnosis according to the National Institute on Aging - Alzheimer's Association criteria
You will not qualify if you...
- History of neurological or psychiatric diseases such as epilepsy, brain damage, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, or substance use disorder
- Current use of psychotropic medications with cognitive side effects like benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or antipsychotics
- Current use of cognitive enhancing medications including Adderall or Memantine
- Conditions that hinder EEG acquisition or TMS delivery such as skin infections, wounds, or dermatitis
- Conditions that hinder MRI acquisition such as implants or metallic tattoos
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Health Discovery Building
Austin, Texas, United States, 78712
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
José del R. Millán, PhD
CONTACT
M
Minsu Zhang
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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