Actively Recruiting
Detection and Amelioration of Gamma Oscillation Abnormalities in Blast-Related Brain Injury
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2026-04-23
50
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
447 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Combat Veterans of post-9/11 conflicts have experienced serious cognitive and emotional problems resulting from exposure to blasts. Recent work suggests that a critical factor influencing the consequences of blast exposure is distance from the blast, rather than the presence or absence of concussion symptoms. Exposure to blasts from a distance of \<10 m has been associated with significantly greater cognitive and neural problems than exposure to blasts from \>10 m. So far, the effects of blast-related brain injury on the brain are poorly understood, as to date the effects of blast exposure have received little research focus. The investigators propose to use oscillations in the gamma band (30-100 Hz) of the electroencephalogram (EEG; brain waves) to detect and remediate neural circuit dysfunction related to blast injury in Veterans. If successful, this project could lead to new approaches to detect and remediate the effects of blast exposure on Veterans and aid in their functional recovery.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Detection and Amelioration of Gamma Oscillation Abnormalities in Blast-Related Brain Injury
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Veterans aged 18 to 65 years
- Have experienced blast exposure
- Recruited from the VA Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders at VA Boston Healthcare System
- Half of participants exposed to blasts from less than 10 meters (Close)
- Half of participants exposed to blasts from more than 10 meters (Far)
- Groups matched by age and gender ratio
You will not qualify if you...
- History of neurological illness such as Huntington's, Parkinson's, or dementia
- History of seizure disorders unrelated to head injury
- Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar, or other psychotic disorder
- Severe depression or anxiety requiring hospitalization or active suicidal/homicidal ideation requiring crisis intervention
- Cognitive disorder due to general medical condition other than TBI
- Unstable psychological diagnosis interfering with data collection
- Current alcohol or drug dependence or abuse within the last 6 months
- Hearing impairments as assessed by audiometry
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02130-4817
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kevin M Spencer, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
1
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