NEURO-COGS: Neurometabolic Mechanisms of Cognitive Training in Schizophrenia

Summary

This study will examine brain metabolic and excitatory/inhibitory mechanisms related to cognitive and visual functioning in adults with schizophrenia and healthy control participants.

Participants will complete behavioral assessments, cognitive testing, electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy assessments. After baseline assessments, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two computerized cognitive training programs: perceptual discrimination training or cognitive control training. Each training program will include approximately 10 hours of training over 2 to 6 weeks.

The study will evaluate changes in cognitive and visual task performance, EEG measures, and brain metabolite concentrations before and after cognitive training. Some participants may also complete optional extended baseline assessments before cognitive training.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Cognitive Impairment
• Visual Impairment

Interventions

DEVICE

Perceptual Discrimination Training

Perceptual discrimination training is a computerized cognitive training program delivered through the BrainHQ platform. Training involves Gabor patch and other visual stimulus discrimination exercises that focus on improving signal-to-noise resolution and attentional control. On each training trial, participants distinguish a target stimulus among distractor stimuli. Training difficulty adapts based on participant performance. Participants complete approximately 10 hours of training over 2 to 6 weeks.

DEVICE

Cognitive Control Training

Cognitive control training is a computerized cognitive training program delivered through the BrainHQ platform. Training involves maintaining accurate representations of cognitive context in working memory during response selection. Training difficulty adapts based on participant performance by changing the speed of stimulus presentation or working memory load. Participants complete approximately 10 hours of training over 2 to 6 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Minnesota

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Caroline Demro, PhD, LP · University of Minnesota

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

79 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-10-01

Primary Completion

2031-06-01

Completion

2031-06-01

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations