Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Paired Associative Stimulation in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Patients With Schizophrenia

This research is investigating a brain stimulation method called Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS) in individuals with schizophrenia. PAS aims to improve how brain cells communicate by strengthening their connections, a process known as 'long-term potentiation'. While PAS has shown some effects in healthy people, these haven't been clearly seen in people with schizophrenia. This study will focus on a specific brain area important for thinking and memory, called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Researchers want to find out if PAS works differently in this area for people with schizophrenia and if it can help improve their performance on memory and thinking tasks.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Enrolment target

Start

01 Mar 2012

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Schizophrenia

What is this study about?

You might have heard about conditions like schizophrenia affecting how people think and process information. This study is looking into a new way to understand and potentially help with some of these challenges, specifically focusing on how brain cells communicate with each other. Our brains are incredibly complex, and the way individual brain cells (neurons) connect and send messages is crucial for everything we do, including learning and remembering.

Researchers are using a special technique called Paired Associative Stimulation, or PAS for short. This method involves very gentle and focused electrical signals to specific parts of the brain. The idea behind PAS is to encourage brain cells to strengthen their connections, making them more efficient at communicating. This strengthening process is sometimes called 'long-term potentiation' and it's thought to be really important for how we learn new things and form memories. Previous studies with PAS in people with schizophrenia haven't shown the same strong effects as in healthy individuals, especially in the part of the brain that controls movement.

This new study will focus on a different brain area, called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This area is super important for complex thinking, planning, and memory, and it's also where some of the biggest changes in the brain in schizophrenia are found. The researchers want to see if PAS has a different effect in this particular brain region for people with schizophrenia. They also want to find out if improving the connections in this brain area could lead to better performance on tasks that involve memory and thinking. This research could help us better understand how to support thinking skills in people with schizophrenia in the future.

Key takeaways

This study uses gentle brain stimulation to understand how brain cells communicate in schizophrenia.
It focuses on a brain area important for thinking, memory, and learning.
The goal is to see if this stimulation can improve thinking skills in people with schizophrenia.
Participation involves brain stimulation sessions and memory tests.
You won't need to change your existing medication to participate.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you would need to be 18 years old or older, and you can be of any race or background. For those with schizophrenia, you would need a formal diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related condition called schizoaffective disorder. It’s important that your condition has been stable recently, meaning no hospital stays in the last three months (or if you were in hospital, it was for at least three months before the study began) and no changes to your antipsychotic medication for at least four weeks.

We need participants to be able to speak English and understand and agree to take part in the study. You should also have good enough vision to read newspaper headlines (with glasses if needed) and good enough hearing to understand a raised voice in conversation. There are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join, such as having certain other neurological conditions, a very low score on a short memory test, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or a current major depressive episode, or recent drug or alcohol dependence. You also couldn't have had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the last six months, or if you are left-handed, as this might affect brain measurements. If you are unable to make your own decisions about your care, you also wouldn't be able to participate.

For healthy volunteers, the main criteria are being 18 or over, able to speak English and give consent, and have good enough vision and hearing. You couldn't have a psychiatric diagnosis (apart from very common conditions like simple phobias or adjustment disorder) or certain other neurological illnesses. Taking other medications, especially sedatives or sleeping aids, would need to be checked to ensure they haven't changed for at least four weeks.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and has your condition been stable recently?
Can you speak English and hear and see well enough to participate?
Have you had no recent history of severe head injury, major depression, or alcohol/drug dependence?
Are you right-handed? (Left-handed people cannot join this specific study).

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you would undergo brain stimulation using a method called Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS). This involves receiving very gentle magnetic pulses to a specific area of your brain. You would also complete some tasks designed to test your memory and thinking skills before and after the stimulation. The study would involve several visits over a period of time, where you might receive either single sessions or a two-week course of the brain stimulation. You would not need to take any new medication as part of the study. The total duration of your involvement would vary depending on which part of the study you participate in, but it would involve regular assessments and follow-up over several days or weeks.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in any research study has potential benefits and risks. You might not directly benefit from taking part in this specific study, but the information gathered could help researchers better understand schizophrenia and develop new ways to support people in the future. The brain stimulation used, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), is generally considered safe, but like any medical procedure, there's a small chance of side effects such as mild headache or discomfort at the stimulation site. You will be monitored closely throughout the study. It’s important to remember that participating is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your usual care.

Locations (1)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada

Common questions

What is 'brain stimulation' in this study?

It's a gentle method called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) which uses magnetic pulses to briefly activate specific areas of your brain. It's not a surgical procedure.

Will this brain stimulation hurt?

Most people find the stimulation tolerable, though you might feel a tapping sensation on your head or a mild headache afterwards. These are usually temporary.

What does 'DLPFC' mean?

It stands for dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is a part of your brain important for planning, memory, and making decisions.

Will I have to stop my current medication?

No, you will continue your current medication as prescribed. The study requires your medication dosage to have been stable for at least four weeks.

What are 'cognitive tasks'?

These are activities or puzzles designed to see how well you can concentrate, remember things, or solve problems.