Actively Recruiting
Neuromodulation-assisted Ego-disengagement: The NEURO-EGO Study Stage 2
Led by University of Wisconsin, Madison · Updated on 2025-11-12
48
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
148 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead Sponsor
T
Tiny Blue Dot Foundation
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether brain stimulation technology can help people reach a meditative state quickly and easily without years of meditation training. The researchers want to see if this will help people distance themselves from their thoughts and feeling, and if this will lead to improvements in openness and wellbeing the same way meditation can. Participants will: * Complete questionnaires * Perform a guided meditation task (The Bell Task) * Wear a high density electrocochleography (hdEEG) cap * Undergo brain stimulation
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Neuromodulation-assisted Ego-disengagement: The NEURO-EGO Study Stage 2
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults, ages 18 to 80 of any identified gender
- Medically healthy
- English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)
- Healthy adults who are meditation-nafve
- Citizen or legal resident
You will not qualify if you...
- Any current or past history of neurological disorders or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions
- Any current or past history of bipolar disorder and/or hypomania
- Any current or past history of psychosis
- History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness; or a history of great than 3 grade I concussions
- Current history of poorly controlled headaches including intractable or poorly controlled migraines
- Any systemic illness or unstable medical condition that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
- History of fainting spells of unknown or undetermined etiology that might constitute seizures
- History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG, or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy with the exception of a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
- Possible pregnancy. All female participants of child-bearing age are required to have a pregnancy test
- Any metal in the brain, skull or head
- Any contraindications to MRI
- Any medical devices or implants (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator, dental implants (this includes a permanent retainer)) unless otherwise approved by the responsible MD
- Substance abuse or dependence within the past six months
- Any medication that may alter seizure threshold i.e., ADHD stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine); Tricyclic/atypical antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Dioxepine, Imipramine Maprotiline, Nortriptyline, Bupropion); Antipsychotics (Chlorpromazine, Clozapine), Bronchodilators (theophylline, aminophylline); Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, imipenem, penicillin, cephalosporins, metronidazole, isoniazid); Antiviral (Valacyclovir, Ritonavir); OTC (Diphenhydramine)
- Claustrophobia (a fear of small or closed places)
- Back problems that would prevent lying flat for up to two hours
- Having experienced a traumatic event that caused lasting distress or required treatment
- Motion sickness
- Any hair braid, dreadlocks, hair pieces, or extensions which cannot be taken out or adjusted to permit comfortable and comprehensive participation before the MRI scans and/or stimulation sessions
- Any head coverings or headdress that participant feels uncomfortable removing for the purposes of the MRI scans and/or stimulation session
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53719
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Simone Bruno
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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