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Thalamic Temporal Interference Stimulation During Sleep Study

This study is investigating whether a non-invasive electrical brain stimulation called temporal interference transcranial electrical stimulation (TI-TES) can temporarily change brain activity during sleep, specifically brain rhythms called sleep spindles. Researchers want to find the best way to deliver this stimulation by testing different locations in the thalamus (a part of your brain) and different frequencies. They will compare active TI-TES to a sham (inactive) stimulation. This study is for healthy adults aged 18 to 40 and plans to enroll 24 participants. Success would mean seeing changes in brain activity, like increased sleep spindles, with the active TI-TES compared to the sham, and identifying the best stimulation settings.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 24 healthy adult participants. It uses a single-blind, experimental design where participants will receive different types of TI-TES and sham stimulation.
What's involved
You would complete a structural MRI scan and then have three overnight sleep sessions, each lasting 10-12 hours. During these sessions, trained technicians will deliver TI-TES or sham stimulation in 3-minute periods while you are in a specific stage of sleep. The study will last approximately 5 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your brain activity will be measured during each of the three overnight visits over a 5-week period.

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NCT07498270

Location- and Frequency-Dependent Effects of Thalamic Temporal Interference Stimulation During Sleep

Recruiting
NAAges 18–40InterventionalBasic science
University of Wisconsin, Madison
~24 participants
Updated 2026-08-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)Broad thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)Carrier only SHAM stimulationAnterior thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)Posterior thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)

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 Spectral Power (SFA) for Active TI-TES vs SHAM
Measured over during each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks
+5 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Healthy Adult Participants
Healthy Participants

Explore related trials

Healthy Participants

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Wisconsin1

Study leadership

  • Larissa Albantakis, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Wisconsin, Madison

Who to contact

Sean Prahl
[email protected]
608-263-4313
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Medically healthy (based on self-report and study team review)
U.S. citizen or holding permanent resident status
English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)

Exclusion

Any current or past history of neurological disorders or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions (including clinically significant findings identified in first MRI)
History of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
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 seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG, or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy except for a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
Possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months (self reported)
Any metal in the head
Any medical devices or implants (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator)
Dental implants
Permanent retainers
Any hair braid, dreadlocks, hair pieces, or extensions which cannot be taken out before the study sessions
Any head coverings or headdress that participant feels uncomfortable removing for the purposes of study sessions
Any medication that may alter seizure threshold taken during the study i.e., ADHD stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine); Tricyclic/atypical antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepine, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, bupropion); SSRIs (Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Sertraline); Antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, clozapine), Bronchodilators (theophylline, aminophylline); Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, imipenem, penicillin, cephalosporins, metronidazole, isoniazid); Antivirals (valacyclovir, ritonavir); OTC antihistamines (diphenhydramine, Benadryl)
Claustrophobia (a fear of small or closed places)
Back problems that would prevent lying flat for up to two hours
Regular night-shift work (second or third shift)
Sleep apnea or other sleep disorder (self-reported)

What this trial measures

  • Change in Spectral Power (SFA) for Active TI-TES vs SHAMduring each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks

    Comparing active TI-TES vs carrier only SHAM, evaluated using both STIM-PRE and POST-PRE contrasts.

  • Change in SFA by Locationduring each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks

    Changes in 8-16 Hz spectral power across frequency-location combinations (broad thalamic, anterior thalamic, posterior thalamic) for STIM-PRE and POST-PRE to identify the most effective parameters within the tested parameter space.

  • Spindle Density in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) SFAduring each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks

    Changes in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) spindle characteristics (density) using STIM-PRE and POST-PRE contrasts

  • Spindle Amplitude in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) SFAduring each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks

    Changes in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) spindle characteristics (amplitude) using STIM-PRE and POST-PRE contrasts

  • Spindle Duration in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) SFAduring each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks

    Changes in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) spindle characteristics (duration) using STIM-PRE and POST-PRE contrasts

  • Spindle Topography in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) SFAduring each of the 3 overnight visits, 5 weeks

    Changes in slow (8-12 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) spindle characteristics (topography) using STIM-PRE and POST-PRE contrasts