Location- and Frequency-Dependent Effects of Thalamic Temporal Interference Stimulation During Sleep
University of Wisconsin, Madison
24 participants
Jun 5, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
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.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Medically healthy (based on self-report and study team review)
- U.S. citizen or holding permanent resident status
- English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)
Exclusion Criteria18
- Any current or past history of neurological disorders or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions (including clinically significant findings identified in first MRI)
- History of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
- History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness; or a history of greater than 3 grade I concussions
- Current history of poorly controlled headaches including intractable or poorly controlled migraines
- Any systemic illness or unstable medical condition that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
- History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG, or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy except for a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
- Possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months (self reported)
- Any metal in the head
- Any medical devices or implants (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator)
- Dental implants
- Permanent retainers
- Any hair braid, dreadlocks, hair pieces, or extensions which cannot be taken out before the study sessions
- Any head coverings or headdress that participant feels uncomfortable removing for the purposes of study sessions
- Any medication that may alter seizure threshold taken during the study i.e., ADHD stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine); Tricyclic/atypical antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepine, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, bupropion); SSRIs (Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Sertraline); Antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, clozapine), Bronchodilators (theophylline, aminophylline); Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, imipenem, penicillin, cephalosporins, metronidazole, isoniazid); Antivirals (valacyclovir, ritonavir); OTC antihistamines (diphenhydramine, Benadryl)
- Claustrophobia (a fear of small or closed places)
- Back problems that would prevent lying flat for up to two hours
- Regular night-shift work (second or third shift)
- Sleep apnea or other sleep disorder (self-reported)
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Interventions
MRI is to optimize placement of multipolar 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
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
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
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.
Locations(1)
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NCT07498270