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Recruiting NCT07554105

Effect of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation on the Performance in Language Tasks

No phase Interventional Healthy Adult Participants

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: transcranial random noise stimulation, sham stimulation.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Healthy Adult Participants. Basic parameters: 18 years — 90 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Switzerland
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Overview

Language is an essential part of daily life, enabling us to communicate, understand others, read, and learn. Certain brain injuries can disrupt these abilities, and current treatments do not always lead to a full recovery. To improve future therapeutic approaches, it is necessary to better understand how the brain processes language and how its activity can be modulated. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial random noise stimulation. This method involves applying a very weak electrical current to the scalp to modulate the activity of brain regions involved in language. It is commonly used in research and is considered safe when administered in accordance with current guidelines. Healthy adult volunteers will participate in this study. Each participant will take part in two sessions spaced about a week apart. During one session, active stimulation will be used, and during the other, placebo stimulation will be used. Placebo stimulation resembles the actual stimulation but has no active effect. Neither the participants nor the researchers will know which type of stimulation is being used during each session. During the sessions, participants will perform various language tasks, and their brain activity will be recorded using an electroencephalogram (EEG), a painless method. This study does not provide any direct benefit to participants. The risks are low and limited to temporary sensations, such as a tingling sensation on the scalp. The results will provide a better understanding of how the brain processes language and could eventually contribute to the development of new rehabilitation approaches.

Interventions

  • Device transcranial random noise stimulation
    active HD-tRNS
  • Device sham stimulation
    current will be ramped up for 30 seconds and then switched of, to mimic the subjective sensation of tRNS.

Primary outcome measures

  • Composite score [Time frame: Periprocedural]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
  • Phonological processing [Time frame: Periprocedural]
  • Semantic processing [Time frame: Periprocedural]
  • Morphosyntactic processing [Time frame: Periprocedural]
  • Reading speed [Time frame: Periprocedural]
  • Sustained attention [Time frame: Periprocedural]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Age: 18-35 years or 60-90 years
  • Native French speakers
  • Right handed
  • Willing and able to provide informed consent
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing

Exclusion criteria

  • History of neurological or psychiatric disease
  • Regular consumption of benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, or psychoactive drugs
  • Major language deficit, developmental language disorder, arthropathies and other mechanical language impairments
  • Inability to understand or follow study procedures
  • Contraindications to brain stimulation, such as
  • History of epilepsy or severe migraine
  • Pacemaker or other active implants
  • Metallic objects in the head
  • Skull breach such as craniotomy
  • Pregnancy

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Crossover
Masking
Single blind
Primary purpose
Basic science

Study locations

Switzerland · 1 center
  • Division of Neurorehabilitation, University Hospital of Geneva — Geneva

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07554105 · 2026-D0001

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗