Brain Stimulation to Help Working Memory in People With Thinking Problems After Stroke
Tests gentle electrical brain stimulation for working memory in people with post-stroke cognitive impairment.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Dual-site Cross-frequency Coupled Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Modulates Working Memory of Patients With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment
Key facts
- Where
- Guangzhou, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults 30 to 80 years old with thinking and memory problems after a first stroke. It tests real versus sham brain stimulation.
- Age
- 30 to 80 years
- Sex
- Women and men can join.
- Disease stage
- First stroke (bleeding or clot) in one side of the brain, confirmed by CT or MRI, 1 to 6 months ago, with cognitive impairment found on the MoCA scale.
- Earlier treatment
- People cannot be receiving non-invasive brain stimulation treatment now.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Currently receiving non-invasive brain stimulation treatment
- Damage in the left DLPFC brain area
- History of epilepsy, mental illness or other brain or mental disorders
- Any reason that makes electrical brain stimulation unsafe
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 30 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT07573501, who can take part
Where in China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, ChinaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Ke Dong, MD
- Trial code
- NCT07573501
- Record updated
- 11 May 2026
- Original description
This clinical trial aims to explore the effect of dual-site theta-gamma cross-frequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation in the frontal and parietal region on the working memory ability of patients with cognitive impairment after stroke, and to evaluate the safety of this protocol. The main purpose is to answer the following question: Can dual-site cross-frequency coupled tACS in the frontal parietal region improve the performance of working memory and cognitive-motor dual tasks in stroke patients? What is its mechanism of action? Researchers will compare the effects of real cross-frequency coupled stimuli and sham stimuli to see if the real stimuli can bring better results to patients. Participants will receive 40 minutes of real or sham electrical stimulation once a day for 5 consecutive days. Clinical evaluations (cognitive scales) and fNIRS were conducted respectively before and after stimulation to record the relevant brain activities at rest and during cognitive tasksRead full original descriptionShow less
Dual-site Cross-frequency Coupled Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Modulates Working Memory of Patients With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment
This clinical trial aims to explore the effect of dual-site theta-gamma cross-frequency coupled transcranial alternating current stimulation in the frontal and parietal region on the working memory ability of patients with cognitive impairment after stroke, and to evaluate the safety of this protocol. The main purpose is to answer the following question: Can dual-site cross-frequency coupled tACS in the frontal parietal region improve the performance of working memory and cognitive-motor dual tasks in stroke patients? What is its mechanism of action? Researchers will compare the effects of real cross-frequency coupled stimuli and sham stimuli to see if the real stimuli can bring better results to patients. Participants will receive 40 minutes of real or sham electrical stimulation once a day for 5 consecutive days. Clinical evaluations (cognitive scales) and fNIRS were conducted respectively before and after stimulation to record the relevant brain activities at rest and during cognitive tasks
Inclusion: Meeting the diagnostic criteria for hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke in the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases(2nd edition), with the first onset, single hemisphere stroke, and confirmed by CT or MRI,course of diease 1-6 months; Age ranging from 30 to 80 years old; Native language is Mandarin or Cantonese; Right-handed; Diagnosed with PSCI by the MoCA scale; Able to cooperate in completing the speech repetition test; Normal hearing.
Exclusion: Currently receiving non-invasive brain stimulation treatment; History of epilepsy, mental illness,or other neurological or mental disorders; Lesions involving the left DLPFC brain regions; Any contraindications for transcranial electrical stimulation.