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NEURO-EGO Study: Brain Stimulation for Meditative States

This study, called NEURO-EGO, is exploring if special brain stimulation devices can help people quickly achieve a meditative state. Researchers are testing two types of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES and TES-TI) to see if they can help you feel more detached from your thoughts and feelings, similar to the benefits of meditation. They want to understand if this leads to improved openness and overall well-being. This first stage of the study involves 22 healthy adults who already practice meditation. To join, you need to be between 18 and 80 years old, medically healthy, speak English, and be a citizen or legal resident. The study will measure how well the stimulation helps with "ego-disengagement" (distancing from thoughts) and changes in your brain's electrical activity.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 22 participants. It is testing two types of brain stimulation (TES and TES-TI) against a sham (inactive) stimulation.
What's involved
You will complete questionnaires, perform a guided meditation, wear a special cap for brain stimulation, and do cognitive tasks. All data is collected at one study visit, anytime up to 2 weeks on study.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your progress will be assessed at one study visit, anytime up to 2 weeks after joining the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06601686

Neuromodulation-assisted Ego-disengagement: The NEURO-EGO Study Stage 1

Recruiting
NAAges 18–80InterventionalBasic science
University of Wisconsin, Madison
~22 participants
Updated 2026-05-26 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES)Transcranial electrical stimulation with temporal interference (TES-TI)Sham stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Ego-Disengagement scale
Measured over Data collected at one study visit (anytime up to 2 weeks on study)
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Healthy

Explore related trials

Healthy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Wisconsin1

Study leadership

  • Melanie Boly, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Wisconsin, Madison

Who to contact

Simone Bruno
[email protected]
608-209-4108
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adults, ages 18 to 80 of any identified gender
Medically healthy
English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)
Healthy adults with a consistent meditation practice
Citizen or legal resident

Exclusion

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 greater 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
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

What this trial measures

  • Ego-Disengagement scaleData collected at one study visit (anytime up to 2 weeks on study)

    Ego-disengagement will be measured using the bell task. This meditation task consists of five "bell trials." During each trial, subjects will be asked to focus on the sound of a bell until it fades, then on the space left empty by the faded sound, resting free from thoughts as long as possible (meditation condition). Afterward, subjects will respond to a few questions designed to assess their level of ego-disengagement during the trials. This is a five-question form that asks subjects to rate, on a scale from 0-4, the degree to which they were perceiving something, imagining something, thinking about themselves, or thinking about something during the previous bell trial and then to rate the valence of their emotional state during the trial from 1 (highly negative) to 6 (highly positive).

  • Cortical activity - change in gamma band powerData collected at one study visit (anytime up to 2 weeks on study)

    Gamma band power will be measured with hdEEG during stimulation. A decrease indicates greater level of ego disengagement.

  • Cortical activity - change in alpha band powerData collected at one study visit (anytime up to 2 weeks on study)

    Alpha band power will be measured with hdEEG during stimulation. An increase indicates greater level of ego disengagement.