Restructuring the Alpha-Gamma Code in Aging Vision

Part of paid clinical trials in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sponsor
Boston University Charles River Campus
Study ID
NCT07208318
Phase
EARLY_PHASE1
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Aging
  • Noninvasive Brain Stimulation
  • Visual Perception

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation — DEVICE
    Low-intensity and safe, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of gradually modulating levels of neuronal excitability.

Study Details

Tests whether age-related visual deficits arise from disrupted alpha-gamma coupling in visual cortex (V1) and MT. Uses fMRI, source-resolved HD-EEG, and personalized complex-waveform HD-tACS to (1) quantify aging effects on phase-amplitude coupling, (2) drive PAC into a preferred "gamma-at-alpha-troughs" state, and (3) bidirectionally change perception by aligning gamma to alpha troughs vs peaks. Two five-day, double-blind, sham-controlled studies (n=120 each) target contrast sensitivity (V1) and 3D shape-from-motion (MT), aiming for mechanistic insight and remediation in older adults with implications for ADRD.

Key Dates

First listed
Oct 6, 2025
Start date
Apr 2, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2030
Completion
Aug 31, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment
240 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: active stimulation
  • Sham Comparator: sham stimulation

Primary Outcome Measure

contrast sensitivity [ Time Frame: Baseline (pre-stimulation) and immediately post-stimulation, collected on each of the 5 study days. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
111 Cummington Mall, Boston UniversityBostonMassachusetts02215
Robert Reinhart, PhD
[email protected]
617-353-9481

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By research site
111 Cummington Mall, Boston University· Boston, MA

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