Actively Recruiting
Effects of Brain Stimulation on Cognition, Oscillations and GABA Levels in Schizophrenia
Led by University of California, Davis · Updated on 2026-03-30
160
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
346 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
People with schizophrenia often have problems with attention, learning and memory and other cognitive abilities that interfere with their work and school performance. Unfortunately, even our best treatments often do not significantly reduce these cognitive problems. The current study investigates whether or not delivering a very small electrical current to people's foreheads (called, transcranial direct current stimulation; (tDCS)) might improve functioning in the front part of the brain and reduce these cognitive problems in people with schizophrenia. tDCS is non-invasive and has been shown to improve cognitive functioning in some preliminary studies. The current study will investigate whether giving tDCS during a task is more effective than giving it during rest (Aim 1), whether delivery of tDCS to the front of the head is more effective than delivery to the back of the head (Aim 2), and whether tDCS delivery will alter levels of a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain (GABA; Aim 3) that is important to cognitive functioning and may be disrupted in people with schizophrenia. Although this study is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat schizophrenia or any other disease, if results are positive it will encourage future large-scale studies to determine if tDCS can become an effective treatment for cognitive problems in people with schizophrenia.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Effects of Brain Stimulation on Cognition, Oscillations and GABA Levels in Schizophrenia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Participants must be able to sufficiently speak and understand English to complete cognitive tasks
- Participants must be able to give valid informed consent
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder
- No medication changes in the prior month
- No medication changes anticipated in the upcoming month
- Stable outpatient or partial hospital status
- Normal IQ (greater than 70, assessed by WASI test)
- Must not be currently taking the antipsychotic clozapine
You will not qualify if you...
- Presence of pacemakers
- Implanted electrical brain or spinal stimulators
- Implanted defibrillator
- Metallic implants
- Skin damage or skin conditions such as eczema at electrode sites
- Hairstyles that prevent electrode placement
- Cranial pathologies
- History of head trauma
- Epilepsy
- Mental retardation
- Known neurological disorders including epilepsy, ALS, MS, stroke, cerebral palsy, autism
- Any DSM-5 axis I psychiatric disorder for healthy control subjects
- Uncorrected vision problems that affect cognitive testing
- Pregnancy
- Substance dependence in the past six months
- Substance abuse in the past month
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Imaging Research Center
Sacramento, California, United States, 95817
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Molly A Bainbridge
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
4
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here