Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 65Years
All Genders
ID07389694

Modulating Bilateral Cortical Activation in Adults Who Stutter Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Pilot Study

Led by Kansas State University · Updated on 2026-02-06

2

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

39 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying whether repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help treat stuttering in adults. The study aims to find out if this treatment causes changes in brain activity and if those changes lead to reduced stuttering. This pilot study focuses on adults who stutter and involves brain imaging and behavioral tests to understand the effects of rTMS. Participants will receive 10 sessions of rTMS delivered at 10 Hz for 10 minutes each, targeting the left inferior frontal gyrus, a brain area involved in speech. Before treatment, structural and resting-state functional MRIs will be taken to guide the precise placement of the stimulation coil. The treatment is given over 10 days, with one group receiving this intervention. Participants will visit the lab three times before treatment to complete tests including resting-state EEG recordings, eye tracking during speech tasks, and speech sample recordings. After the treatment sessions, they will return twice for follow-up tests to assess changes in brain connectivity and speech behavior. The study measures brain activity changes and behavioral improvements in stuttering immediately after treatment and one week later.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Stuttering

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 65Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Age from 18 to 65 years
  • Self-identifies as a person who currently stutters
  • Right-handed or left-handed
  • Normal hearing and (corrected) vision
  • Able to understand and give informed consent
  • Monolingual English speaker
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires; neurostimulators; implanted pumps
  • Metal in the body such as rods, plates, screws, shrapnel, dentures, or intrauterine device
  • Metallic particles in the eye
  • Facial tattoos
  • No medical insurance
  • Surgical clips in the head or previous neurosurgery
  • Any magnetic particles in the body
  • Cochlear implants
  • Prosthetic heart valves
  • Epilepsy or any history of seizures
  • Significant head trauma with neurological effects
  • Known structural brain lesions
  • Pre-existing speech, language, or neurological disorders other than stuttering
  • Significant other diseases such as heart disease, cancer, or mental disorders
  • Severe claustrophobia or M�e9ni�e8re's disease
  • Women trying to get pregnant or sexually active women not using reliable contraception
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Medications that increase seizure risk
  • Non-prescribed or recreational drug use including medical marijuana
  • Inability to complete behavioral or neuropsychological tests
  • Prisoners

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Implementation

Duration - 10 days

Participants receive 10 days of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) treatment targeting specific speech and motor areas of the brain to modulate cortical activation related to stuttering.

Daily visits for 10 days

Follow-up

Duration - 1 week

Participants undergo post-treatment assessments including resting-state EEG, behavioral measures of stuttering, and phonological processing to evaluate changes immediately and one week after treatment.

2 visits (immediately post-treatment and one week after treatment)

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Bluemont Hall, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas, United States, 66506-7500

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

K

Kristin Pelczarski, Ph.D.

J

Julio Hernandez Pavon, Ph.D., DSc

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

NONE

Allocation

NA

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

1

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Nonword repetition and phoneme elision in adults who do and do not stutter: Vocal versus nonvocal performance differences.

Courtney T Byrd, Megann McGill, Evan Usler

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25680736