Brain stimulation of the thalamus for thinking problems in schizophrenia
Tests temporal interference stimulation versus sham for cognitive problems in people with schizophrenia.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Temporal Interference Stimulation Targeting Thalamus for Schizophrenia-Related Cognitive Dysfunction
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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 aged 18 to 60 with schizophrenia for under 8 years, who have thinking problems and take stable antipsychotic medication.
- Age
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Disease stage
- Schizophrenia confirmed by a structured interview (SCID-5), with disease duration not over 8 years, trouble with daily activities, a cognitive test deficit score (MCCB GDS) of 0.5 or above, and at least one positive-symptom item (PANSS) scored 4 or higher.
- Earlier treatment
- Must take 1 or 2 antipsychotic medicines at a stable dose for at least 1 week before joining. Mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or lorazepam above 2 mg/day are not allowed. No other transcranial electrical or magnetic therapy in the last month.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Other psychiatric disorders, intellectual disability, clear mood symptoms, or substance use disorder (except caffeine or tobacco)
- History of seizures, meningitis, or encephalitis
- Brain tumor, previous brain surgery, or severe head injury
- Any reason that rules out electrical brain stimulation
- Clear drug-induced movement side effects (extrapyramidal reaction)
Read by machine on 12 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 18 and 60 years old?
Source: NCT07927790, who can take 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
- Central South University
- Trial code
- NCT07927790
- Record updated
- 10 November 2026
- Original description
Prefrontal cortical dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) may result from impaired thalamic inputs to this region. Meanwhile, patients with SCZ exhibit a reduced GABA/glutamate ratio in the thalamus, indicating thalamic excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance. In addition, SCZ patients show marked reduction of sleep spindles, which are predominantly generated by the thalamic reticular nucleus. Therefore, thalamus-targeted temporal interference stimulation (TIS) may modulate the function of thalamocortical circuits, ameliorate clinical symptoms including cognitive deficits in patients with SCZ, and serve as an effective non-pharmacological intervention. This study consists of two trial components with three objectives: (1) to explore the therapeutic effect of TIS on cognitive function in patients with SCZ; (2) to explore the effect of TIS on positive symptoms in patients with SCZ; (3) to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying TIS-mediated symptom modulation in SCZ.Read full original descriptionShow less
Therapeutic Efficacy and Mechanism of Temporal Interference Stimulation on Thalamic-Mediated Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia
Prefrontal cortical dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) may result from impaired thalamic inputs to this region. Meanwhile, patients with SCZ exhibit a reduced GABA/glutamate ratio in the thalamus, indicating thalamic excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance. In addition, SCZ patients show marked reduction of sleep spindles, which are predominantly generated by the thalamic reticular nucleus. Therefore, thalamus-targeted temporal interference stimulation (TIS) may modulate the function of thalamocortical circuits, ameliorate clinical symptoms including cognitive deficits in patients with SCZ, and serve as an effective non-pharmacological intervention. This study consists of two trial components with three objectives: (1) to explore the therapeutic effect of TIS on cognitive function in patients with SCZ; (2) to explore the effect of TIS on positive symptoms in patients with SCZ; (3) to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying TIS-mediated symptom modulation in SCZ.
Trial 1: This study adopts a randomized, controlled, crossover design. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: Group A and Group B. Clinical data from 30 patients with schizophrenia (15 participants per group) will be collected, including baseline clinical rating scale scores, cognitive assessments, electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. All participants will receive two sessions of TIS intervention in a crossover fashion, with a 1-week washout period between the two interventions. One day prior to each TIS session, participants will complete two training runs of the Sternberg Item-Recognition Paradigm (SIRP) to eliminate confounding learning effects. Outcome measurements including clinical scale scores, cognitive assessments, EEG and MRI data will be acquired at baseline. Task-state MRI will be recorded during both stimulation sessions.
Trial 2: This trial uses a rigorous randomized controlled design. Participants will be randomized into two arms: the TIS group and the control group. Fifty patients with schizophrenia will be enrolled (25 participants per group). Baseline data will be collected, including clinical symptom ratings, cognitive function scores, EEG-derived E/I imbalance metrics, and MRI data. The intervention lasts for 2 weeks with twice-daily stimulation, totaling 20 sessions. Assessments will be performed at baseline, at the end of the 2-week intervention, and at a 4-week post-intervention follow-up to evaluate changes in clinical symptoms, cognition, EEG E/I imbalance, and brain structural and functional features. This trial aims to explore the short-term efficacy, safety, and neurobiological mechanisms of TIS for improving cognitive function in schizophrenia.
Inclusion: 18 to 60 years of age; meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for schizophrenia as confirmed by the *Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5* (SCID-5); receiving 1 or 2 antipsychotic medications at a stable dose for at least 1 week before enrollment. Concurrent use of mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or excessive benzodiazepines (lorazepam >2 mg/day) was prohibited，During treatment, the types of antipsychotic drugs remain the same, and the dosage adjustments should not exceed 25%; have functional impairment in daily activities; provide written informed consent; the disease duration does not exceed 8 years; The Global Deficit Score (GDS) for the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) reaches 0.5 or above; At least one item of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale has a score ≥ 4.
Exclusion: intracranial tumors or prior neurosurgery; receipt of other transcranial electrical or magnetic therapies within 1 month before enrollment; with clear drug-induced extrapyramidal reaction; comorbid psychiatric disorders, intellectual disability, clinically significant mood symptoms, or substance use disorders (except caffeine or tobacco); a history of seizures, meningitis, or encephalitis; a history of severe head trauma; contraindications to transcranial electrical stimulation.