Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Precision HD-tACS for Enhancing Sensory Experience in Schizophrenia

80 participantsStarted 2026-06-15

Plain-language summary

To ensure unified sensory perception, the brain must link information from different senses across time and space. This unification of perception often referred to as a perceptual "binding constraint" is a prerequisite for any organized perception. Patients with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in the spatiotemporal binding of sensory information . Electroencephalography (EEG) studies highlight the role of delta-theta oscillatory dynamics (2-8 Hz) in neuronal entrainment processes underlying spatiotemporal binding, which enables the formation of a coherent and organized perceptual representation . These same dynamics are disrupted in schizophrenia . In tasks assessing perceptual binding, such alterations manifest as widened temporal binding windows, reflecting impaired temporal structuring of visual events. Physiologically, these disruptions may stem from impaired feedback mechanisms within the cortico-cerebello-thalamo-cortical (CCTC) loop. Schizophrenia patients also exhibit functional and structural deficits in the pulvinar and frontal cortex, key nodes of the CCTC loop . Recent technical advances in transcranial neurostimulation have reinforced its potential as a therapeutic tool. High-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) now enables individualized modulation of pre-identified neural networks , including targeted interventions for schizophrenia . Based on a personalized stimulation protocol, this research project proposes precision HD-tACS therapy, tailored for each patient according to their delta-theta peak frequency measured via EEG and the optimal functional stimulation site identified with functional MRI (fMRI). Stimulation will be applied functionally, i.e., while the patient performs a cognitive task. Structural connectivity alterations have been observed in fronto-thalamic, thalamo-cingulate, and cortico-cerebellar pathways in schizophrenia, potentially underpinning temporal and spatial binding deficits. Assessing the integrity of the CCTC loop with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) will allow quantification of fiber coherence and white matter density connecting cortical and subcortical regions within this network.To evaluate both baseline perceptual deficits and the potential improvements induced by stimulation, a control group of healthy participants will be included.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria for control group and patient: * Be aged 18 to 65 years inclusive. * Have read and understood the study information sheet. * Be affiliated with a social security system or be a beneficiary. * Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision (glasses or contact lenses). Exclusion Criteria for control group : * Any contraindication to tACS, e.g., cardiac pacemaker or other devices that could interfere with the electric field. * Any contraindication to MRI, e.g., neurological stimulator, pacemaker, cardiac defibrillator, cardiac or vascular prosthesis, intracranial clips or clamps, cerebrospinal fluid shunt, metallic fragments in the eyes, cochlear implants, severe claustrophobia. (A standardized MRI screening questionnaire will be provided.) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. (Pregnancy status will be verified with a test on the day of the exam.) * Legal incapacity (under guardianship, conservatorship, or judicial/administrative detention) or inability to provide informed consent. * Major psychiatric disorders (excluding tobacco use disorder). * Neurological disorders. * Severe somatic disorders that could interfere with participation. * Uncorrected visual impairments. * Recent consumption of substances likely to alter brain activity (alcohol, drugs, etc.). * Presence of any psychiatric disorder. * Under legal protection (guardianship or conservatorship). Exclusion Criteria - Patient Group A potential patient participant will be excluded if they have: * Any contrai…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial is listed as 'not yet recruiting' — do you know when it's expected to open, and would it make sense for me to get on a waitlist or check back at a specific time?
2The trial is listed as Phase NA, which I understand can mean it's more of an early-stage research study than a treatment trial — does that mean there's less known about whether this type of brain stimulation is safe or beneficial for people with schizophrenia?
3The study seems to be measuring something called 'point of subjective equality,' which sounds like it's about how I perceive sensory information — can you explain what that actually means and whether improving that measure would translate into any real-world benefit I'd notice?
4Since this trial uses a brain stimulation technique called tACS, are there any known risks or side effects I should be aware of, especially given my diagnosis of schizophrenia?
5Before considering something like this, would it make more sense to focus on optimizing my current medications or other standard treatments first, or do you think this kind of research study could complement what I'm already doing?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Point of subjective equality(PSE)

Timeframe: Day1: pre-intervention From 2 days to 20 days maximum: intervention and post-intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07632261

SponsorHôpital le Vinatier

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-15

Contact for this trial

Lydie SARTELET

+334 37 91 55 31 lydie.sartelet@ch-le-vinatier.fr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More SCHIZOPHRENIA 1 (Disorder) trials