Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in Stuttering
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorUniversity of Michigan
About this trial
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.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Have normal language, hearing, and cognition
Speak English as the primary language
Currently stutter
Score (per protocol) a certain value on the Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI-4).
Disqualifiers
History of seizures
Major medical or neurological illness (e.g., stroke, serious head trauma, brain infection, Parkinson's disease, etc.)
History of closed head injury with loss of consciousness (e.g., concussion)
Metal or electronic implants such as cochlear implants and pacemakers anywhere in the body
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
Treatment groups
80 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupSponsors and collaborators
Source ClinicalTrials.gov