Location- and Frequency-Dependent Effects of Thalamic Temporal Interference Stimulation During Sleep

Summary

This study is to find out whether a type of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation called temporal interference transcranial electrical stimulation (TI-TES) can temporarily change brain activity during sleep, especially sleep spindles (brain rhythms in the \~8-16 Hz range). Up to 24 healthy participants in Dane County, Wisconsin will be enrolled for 3 overnight study visits. Participants can expect to be on study for approximately 5 weeks, depending on scheduling availability.

Conditions

• Healthy Adult Participants
• Healthy Participants

Interventions

OTHER

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI is to optimize placement of multipolar TI-TES

DEVICE

Broad thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)

Stimulation targeted at the whole thalamus. Within each overnight session, up to 24 stimulation protocols will be administered, randomized across frequencies (including SHAM). Stimulation will be initiated by trained sleep technicians during stable N2 sleep and delivered in 3-minute epochs separated by 6-minute intervals to enable comparison of PRE, STIM, and POST intervals

DEVICE

Carrier only SHAM stimulation

Carrier only SHAM condition. Within each overnight session, up to 24 stimulation protocols will be administered, randomized across frequencies (including SHAM). Stimulation will be initiated by trained sleep technicians during stable N2 sleep and delivered in 3-minute epochs separated by 6-minute intervals to enable comparison of PRE, STIM, and POST intervals

DEVICE

Anterior thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)

Stimulation targeted at the anterior thalamus. Within each overnight session, up to 24 stimulation protocols will be administered, randomized across frequencies (including SHAM). Stimulation will be initiated by trained sleep technicians during stable N2 sleep and delivered in 3-minute epochs separated by 6-minute intervals to enable comparison of PRE, STIM, and POST intervals

DEVICE

Posterior thalamic stimulation (TI-TES)

Stimulation targeted at the posterior thalamus. Within each overnight session, up to 24 stimulation protocols will be administered, randomized across frequencies (including SHAM). Stimulation will be initiated by trained sleep technicians during stable N2 sleep and delivered in 3-minute epochs separated by 6-minute intervals to enable comparison of PRE, STIM, and POST intervals.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Wisconsin, Madison

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Larissa Albantakis, PhD · University of Wisconsin, Madison

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-30

Primary Completion

2027-08-31

Completion

2028-02-29

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations