Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in Stuttering

Part of paid clinical trials in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sponsor
University of Michigan
Study ID
NCT06740968
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Stuttering, Adult
  • Stuttering, Childhood
  • Stuttering, Developmental

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 65 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) — DEVICE
    During each of the 3 stimulation visits, participants will be seated in a comfortable position and a cap will be placed on participant's head similar to a swimming cap. Small electrodes will be placed near the surface of the scalp at certain regions of interest, and a weak electrical current will be passed through the electrodes into speech related brain areas for 20 minutes. The study team will not use current strengths exceeding 2 milliamps (mA).

Study Details

The purpose of this study is to investigate how mild, noninvasive electrical brain stimulation affects speech relevant brain areas, which may in turn affect speech fluency and speaking-related brain activity in people that stutter. The long-term goal of this study is to test the therapeutic potential of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for the treatment of stuttering. The study team hypothesizes that if stuttering involves impaired initiation of motor programs, delta-tuned tACS will strengthen communication between brain regions and decrease stuttering. Therefore, delta-tuned sensorimotor tACS will be paired with fluency-induced speech (choral reading), which is hypothesized to decrease stuttering via improved auditory motor integration.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 5, 2025
Status verified
Sep 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2029
Completion
Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
    Participants will receive 3 sessions of tACS. Each session can be active or sham. The stimulation parameters regarding the active and sham will not be disclosed at this time to maintain blind to participants. At the end of the trial the study will be updated to list these.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Phase Synchronization [ Time Frame: Baseline (pre-tACS), approximately 3 hours (post-tACS) (visits 3-5) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of MichiganAnn ArborMichigan48109
Soo-Eun Chang, PhD
[email protected]
734-232-0300
Soo-Eun Chang, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Ann Arbor, MI

By research site
University of Michigan· Ann Arbor, MI

Related Studies