Noninvasive Temporal Interference Stimulation: Modulating Associative Memory by Targeting Deep-brain Targets

Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trial

— Deep-HiPs  

Official title:

Noninvasive Temporal Interference Stimulation: An Approach for Modulating Associative Memory by Targeting Deep-brain Targets

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05805215
• Other study ID #: LX22NPO5107
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 30, 2024
• Est. completion date: December 12, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: October 2023
• Source: Masaryk University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Alzheimer's disease and its preclinical stages are characterized by progressive neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampi and default mode network resulting in dysfunctions in episodic memory and its central part the associative memory. Associative memory allows for learning and remembering the relationship between unrelated items. Previous research suggests that non-invasive brain stimulation can influence associative memory but with the caveat of quite a small precision and relatively small effects due to the ability only influence superficial brain areas. Novel Brain stimulation techniques such as temporal interference stimulation (TIS) allow overcoming these caveats by allowing focal non-invasive deep brain stimulation. The main goal of this pilot clinical trial is to modulate associative memory among healthy seniors by influencing the cortico-hippocampal circuits using TIS. Secondly, the goal is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and EEG to explore the neural correlates of TIS effects on brain networks and find biomarkers that allow predicting better response to brain stimulation.

Description:

Alzheimer's disease and its preclinical stages are characterized by progressive neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampi and default mode network resulting in dysfunctions in episodic memory and its central part the associative memory. Encoding of associative information occurs in the distributed brain networks involving the inferior frontal cortex, fusiform cortex, medial temporal lobe, premotor and posterior parietal cortex including the precuneus. Previous studies have shown that by targeting specific nodes within the cortico-hippocampal circuits via the tools of non-invasive brain stimulation the associative memory (AM) performance can be manipulated, however, only relatively surface areas of this circuit were accessible by current non-invasive stimulation techniques. Novel modalities of non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation such as temporal interference stimulation (TIS) holds a promise to stimulate deeper brain structures without compromising the focality.

TIS relies on high frequencies which can penetrate with relatively low loss. High-frequency carriers (>1 kHz) emitted by two (or more) pairs of cutaneous electrodes can temporally interfere at deep peripheral nerve targets. The effective stimulation frequency is equal to the offset frequency between the carriers. By controlling field orientation and frequency offset, the hot spot of constructive interference can be precisely targeted. The key aspect of this method is the use of carrier waves at frequencies higher than 1 kHz. Frequencies above this range are regarded as non-stimulating and pass-through tissues with relatively low loss. While these higher frequencies do not stimulate neural tissue, the interference envelope of two phase-shifted frequencies can elicit action potentials because the offset (aka "beat") frequency can be tuned accordingly to < 100 Hz. The latest studies showed positive behavioral effects of TIS applied over the primary motor cortex or motor striatum in healthy young adults. To date, no studies have investigated the effect of TIS on AM.

The specific objectives include: 1) Implement a novel temporal interference stimulation (TIS) technique in a proof-of-concept study targeting deep structures of the cortico-hippocampal circuit, which were until this date unattainable reliably by non-invasive stimulation techniques, with the aim to modulate associative memory in healthy seniors. 2) Explore neural underpinnings of TIS effects and find biomarkers associated with better temporal interference stimulation outcomes and with optimal candidates' selection by using EEG/fMRI techniques

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: December 12, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: November 1, 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Intact cognition

• with the ability to comprehend the experimental task

• right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

• left-handed

• severe internal disease, cancer

• brain tumour, intracranial surgery, psychiatric disorder

• severe neurological brain disease; i.e.: epilepsy, stroke etc.

• the presence of a pacemaker/defibrillator, metal incompatible with magnetic resonance in the body

• incapacitating musculoskeletal disorders

• cognitive impairment based on screening tests

• severe impairment of vision

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alzheimer Disease
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Healthy Aging
• Memory Disorders
• Memory Disorders in Old Age
• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intervention

Combination Product:
• Non-invasive Temporal Interference stimulation and Face-name association training task targeting the hippocampus
TIS relies on high frequencies which can penetrate with relatively low loss. High-frequency carriers (>1 kHz) emitted by two (or more) pairs of cutaneous electrodes can temporally interfere at deep peripheral nerve targets. The effective stimulation frequency is equal to the offset frequency between the carriers. By controlling field orientation and frequency offset, the hot spot of constructive interference can be precisely targeted. The key aspect of this method is the use of carrier waves at frequencies higher than 1 kHz. Frequencies above this range are regarded as non-stimulating and pass-through tissues with relatively low loss. While these higher frequencies do not stimulate neural tissue, the interference envelope of two phase-shifted frequencies can elicit action potentials because the offset (aka "beat") frequency can be tuned accordingly to < 100 Hz.
• Non-invasive Temporal Interference stimulation and Face-name association training task targeting the Precuneus
TIS relies on high frequencies which can penetrate with relatively low loss. High-frequency carriers (>1 kHz) emitted by two (or more) pairs of cutaneous electrodes can temporally interfere at deep peripheral nerve targets. The effective stimulation frequency is equal to the offset frequency between the carriers. By controlling field orientation and frequency offset, the hot spot of constructive interference can be precisely targeted. The key aspect of this method is the use of carrier waves at frequencies higher than 1 kHz. Frequencies above this range are regarded as non-stimulating and pass-through tissues with relatively low loss. While these higher frequencies do not stimulate neural tissue, the interference envelope of two phase-shifted frequencies can elicit action potentials because the offset (aka "beat") frequency can be tuned accordingly to < 100 Hz.
• High-frequency stimulation (placebo) with Face-name association training task
High-frequency (>1 kHz) stimulation; Standardly used as a carrier frequency; Effects are expected to he high-pass filtered by neurons

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Czechia	CEITEC Masaryk university	Brno

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Masaryk University	St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Czechia, 

References & Publications (9)

Eichenbaum H. Prefrontal-hippocampal interactions in episodic memory. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2017 Sep;18(9):547-558. doi: 10.1038/nrn.2017.74. Epub 2017 Jun 29. — View Citation

Grossman N, Bono D, Dedic N, Kodandaramaiah SB, Rudenko A, Suk HJ, Cassara AM, Neufeld E, Kuster N, Tsai LH, Pascual-Leone A, Boyden ES. Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation via Temporally Interfering Electric Fields. Cell. 2017 Jun 1;169(6):1029-1041.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.024. — View Citation

Koch G, Bonni S, Pellicciari MC, Casula EP, Mancini M, Esposito R, Ponzo V, Picazio S, Di Lorenzo F, Serra L, Motta C, Maiella M, Marra C, Cercignani M, Martorana A, Caltagirone C, Bozzali M. Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the precuneus enhances memory and neural activity in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage. 2018 Apr 1;169:302-311. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.048. Epub 2017 Dec 19. — View Citation

Lang S, Gan LS, Alrazi T, Monchi O. Theta band high definition transcranial alternating current stimulation, but not transcranial direct current stimulation, improves associative memory performance. Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 12;9(1):8562. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44680-8. — View Citation

Preston AR, Eichenbaum H. Interplay of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in memory. Curr Biol. 2013 Sep 9;23(17):R764-73. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.05.041. — View Citation

Salami A, Pudas S, Nyberg L. Elevated hippocampal resting-state connectivity underlies deficient neurocognitive function in aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Dec 9;111(49):17654-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1410233111. Epub 2014 Nov 24. — View Citation

Wagner AD, Shannon BJ, Kahn I, Buckner RL. Parietal lobe contributions to episodic memory retrieval. Trends Cogn Sci. 2005 Sep;9(9):445-53. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2005.07.001. — View Citation

Wang H, Jin J, Cui D, Wang X, Li Y, Liu Z, Yin T. Cortico-Hippocampal Brain Connectivity-Guided Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Enhances Face-Cued Word-Based Associative Memory in the Short Term. Front Hum Neurosci. 2020 Oct 30;14:541791. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.541791. eCollection 2020. — View Citation

Wang JX, Rogers LM, Gross EZ, Ryals AJ, Dokucu ME, Brandstatt KL, Hermiller MS, Voss JL. Targeted enhancement of cortical-hippocampal brain networks and associative memory. Science. 2014 Aug 29;345(6200):1054-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1252900. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Accuracy in Face-Name association task	The face-name association task will be composed of blocks of encoding and recall. Each block contained a unique face-name pair. Multiple pairs followed by a delay and a recall period, where participants tried to select the correct name of each face out of five options (i.e., one target name, two foil names that were present in the block but associated with a different face, and two distracting names that were not present during the task). After each name selection, participants were asked to rate their choice confidence (1, not confident at all to 4, extremely confident)	Measured during stimulation procedure; assessed through study completion, an average of 2 years
Primary	Speed in Face-Name association task	The face-name association task will be composed of blocks of encoding and recall. Each block contained a unique face-name pair. Multiple pairs followed by a delay and a recall period, where participants tried to select the correct name of each face out of five options (i.e., one target name, two foil names that were present in the block but associated with a different face, and two distracting names that were not present during the task). After each name selection, participants were asked to rate their choice confidence (1, not confident at all to 4, extremely confident)	Measured during stimulation procedure; assessed through study completion, an average of 2 years
Secondary	changes in resting-state functional connectivity in regions of interest	resting-state fMRI: the analysis will be primarily focused on alterations within nodes in the Default mode Network and between network connectivity; Secondary focus on task-positive networks, namely: Central executive network and Dorsal attentional network	Baseline measurement approximately 20 minutes prior stimulation; immediately after stimulation protocol up to 30 minutes
Secondary	Transcranial magnetic stimulation evoked activity change over the regions of interest (Precuneus, prefrontal cortex)	Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) evoked potentials; Investigation of local cortical circuits and networks activated following stimulation	Baseline measurement approximately 30 minutes prior stimulation; immediately after stimulation protocol up to 40 minutes

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