A Neurosensory Account of Anxiety and Stress (Study 2)

This study is investigating how the brain processes anxiety and stress, particularly in people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Researchers are testing a device called Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), which uses a weak electrical current applied to the scalp, to see if it can help correct brain networks related to anxiety and hypervigilance. Another device, Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS), is also being tested. The study will measure changes in brain activity using electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after stimulation. You may be eligible if you are 18-50 years old, right-handed, have normal vision and smell, and meet specific health criteria. If you have PTSD, your medication must be stable for two months. The study aims to enroll 160 participants, but its current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design: This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled study involving 160 participants (80 healthy subjects and 80 patients with PTSD). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive tACS, sham tACS, or tRNS.
What's involved: You would receive electrical stimulation for 10 to 40 minutes at a time. Brain activity will be measured using EEG and fMRI before and immediately after stimulation.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Brain activity is measured immediately after stimulation (about 10 to 40 minutes after the start of stimulation).

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

A Neurosensory Account of Anxiety and Stress (Study 2)

Recruiting

NAAges 18–50InterventionalTreatment

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

~160 participants

Updated 2025-09-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)Sham for Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)Transcranial Random Noise stimulation (tRNS)

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in neural oscillatory activity as assessed by electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha power change

Measured over baseline (pre-stimulation); immediately post-stimulation (about 10 to 40 minutes after start of stimulation)

+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Threat-related Sensory Cortical (SC) Disinhibition

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Texas1

Study leadership

Wen Li, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Who to contact

Wen Li, PhD

[email protected]

(713) 486-2700

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Right-handed

With normal or corrected-to-normal vision and normal olfaction

Between the ages of 18 and 50 years

Meeting the tACS screening criteria (see List I below; e.g., lack of a serious head injury or loss of consciousness)

Patients: Diagnosis of PTSD

Patients: If taking psychotropic medications, medication stability in the past 2 months

If having mild substance use disorder (for patients) or occasional substance use, abstention from use 48 hours before the experiment.

Exclusion

A history of diagnosis for a major medical illness (e.g., cancer, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders) or a neurological disorder (e.g., seizure, stroke, Parkinson's disease).

Patients: Concurrent Axis I diagnosis (depression, anxiety, and mild substance use disorder are allowed given their high comorbidity with PTSD).

Healthy controls: A history of diagnosis for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 Axis I disorder or current use of psychoactive medications.

Severe psychiatric instability or severe situational life crises, including evidence of being actively suicidal or homicidal, or any behavior that poses an immediate danger to self or others.

History of head trauma with unconsciousness (\> 5 minutes)

Report that they regularly drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day.

Report that they are unable to abstain from substance use (including alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, amphetamines, narcotics, solvents, cocaine, hallucinogens, tranquilizers, barbiturates, etc.) or sleep medication for 48 hours before being scanned.

Are on calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, nifedipine) or alpha-blockers (e.g., prazosin, terazosin) and are unable to stop these medications for a 48-hour period prior to scanning (to exclude the impact of these medications on the interpretation of fMRI/EEG).

Failed Urine Drug Screening Test: A rapid urine screening test that utilizes monoclonal antibodies to detect elevated levels of specific drugs (including alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, etc.) in urine (iCup)

Pregnancy based on urine test. The safety of magnetic resonance (MR) systems has not been established for fetuses

Having electrically, magnetically, or mechanically activated implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers), because the electromagnetic fields produced by the MR system may interfere with the operation of these devices.

What this trial measures

Change in neural oscillatory activity as assessed by electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha power changebaseline (pre-stimulation); immediately post-stimulation (about 10 to 40 minutes after start of stimulation)
Change in cortical activity as assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changebaseline (pre-stimulation); immediately post-stimulation (about 10 to 40 minutes after start of stimulation)

Trialytics