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Temporal Interference Methods for Addiction Treatment

Key facts

Who runs it
Indiana University
Where
Bloomington and Indianapolis, United StatesSee the 2 sites
Trial code
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
120 people, planned
Started
22 Jan 2026
Expected to end
27 Feb 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 3 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • TI-NDBS
  • Sham TI-NDBS
Record updated
11 September 2026

Who can take part

Age
21 years to 50 years
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Can take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 17 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Between the ages of 21 and 50
  • Nicotine dependent and vape at least 15 mg nicotine per day
  • Must have a phone with internet access
  • Participants must have at least a 6th grade education and be able to speak and read English

Who cannot take part

  • Metal implants in the head or under the scalp (excluding dental implants)
  • Current smoking cessation treatment or medications affecting reward processing
  • History of seizures, seizure disorders, or familial history of seizure disorders
  • History of intractable migraine or complicated migraine syndromes
  • History of suicide attempts or active suicidal ideation (past month)
  • Hypertension with systolic BP >150mmHgCentral nervous system structural lesions (tumors, MS, strokes, etc.)
  • Active neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar, active psychosis, dementia, etc.)
  • History of head trauma with loss of consciousness, skull fractures, subdural hematomas
  • Active severe cannabis use disorder
  • Active alcohol use disorder or history of alcohol withdrawal
  • History of cardiac arrhythmias, prolonged QT, pacemakers, or cardiovascular disorders
  • Active opioid, cocaine, and/or methamphetamine use
  • Pregnancy

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 21 and 50 years old?

Where in United States

  • Indiana UniversityBloomington, United StatesContact: Joshua Brown, PhDTaking people
  • Indiana University School of Medicine - Goodman HallIndianapolis, United StatesContact: Joshua w Brown, PhDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This clinical study is testing whether a new non-invasive brain stimulation method, called temporal interference (TI), can reduce nicotine cravings and usage in people who vape. TI delivers mild electrical currents to the scalp in a way that targets deep brain areas involved in addiction, without the need for surgery.

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In this randomized controlled trial, participants will be assigned to one of three groups: TI stimulation to the nucleus accumbens, TI stimulation to the anterior insula, or a placebo (sham) condition. Each participant will attend a single stimulation session after 8 hours of nicotine abstinence and will use a custom vape device that measures real-time nicotine inhalation. Craving levels will be reported during and after the session.

The study aims to determine whether TI to the insula or nucleus accumbens is more effective at decreasing cravings and nicotine inhalation, and whether either is more effective than sham stimulation. For one week after the session, participants will use a smartphone app to track nicotine use and cravings. The primary hypothesis is that TI stimulation to deep brain regions will reduce both nicotine craving and actual use, immediately after stimulation and over the following week, compared to the sham condition.

The 3 groups in the trial

  • TI Stimulation - Nucleus AccumbensTreatment being tested

    Participants in this arm will receive 60 minutes of temporal interference (TI) stimulation targeted to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). TI will be delivered using two electrode sets, with placement determined to optimize stimulation of this region. Stimulation will use up to 5 mA per electrode at carrier frequencies of 2000 Hz and 2020 Hz, producing a 20 Hz beat frequency. Craving ratings will be collected every 10 minutes, and nicotine vapor use will be measured in real time.

    Treatment: TI-NDBS

  • TI Stimulation - Anterior InsulaTreatment being tested

    Participants in this arm will receive 60 minutes of temporal interference (TI) stimulation targeted to the anterior insula (AI). TI will be delivered using two electrode sets, with placement determined to optimize stimulation of this region. Stimulation will use up to 5 mA per electrode pair at carrier frequencies of 2000 Hz and 2020 Hz, producing a 20 Hz beat frequency. Craving ratings will be collected every 10 minutes, and nicotine vapor use will be measured in real time.

    Treatment: TI-NDBS

  • Sham StimulationSham treatment, for comparison

    Participants in this arm will receive sham temporal interference (TI) stimulation that mimics the initial sensation of active stimulation. The current will ramp up over 30 seconds and immediately ramp back down, with no sustained current. This procedure controls for sensory experience and participant expectations. Electrode placement will mirror that used in the active conditions. Participants will complete the same craving assessments and use the same custom vape device as in the experimental arms.

    Treatment: Sham TI-NDBS

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Fit questions
Built from NCT07210268, who can take part
Record updated
11 September 2026