Last reviewed · How we verify

NCT04402294

Individualized Closed Loop TMS for Working Memory Enhancement

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 17 July 2025
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in Memory in 27 participants. Completed in 13 June 2024.

Timeline
24 November 2021
Primary endpoint
13 June 2024
13 June 2024

Quick facts

Lead sponsorUniversity of Pennsylvania
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designcrossover
Maskingsingle
Primary purposebasic science
Enrollment27
Start date24 November 2021
Primary completion13 June 2024
Estimated completion13 June 2024
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Who can join

Adults 18 to 60, any sex, with Memory. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Reaction Time Changes During N-Back Task in Responses to Different TMS Frequencies Primary · Single visit (~2 hours)

During the TMS/fMRI scan, participants perform a working memory task (N-back). To evaluate how different repetitive TMS frequencies (5, 10, and 20 Hz) impact reaction time during N-back task, each rTMS train is followed by a block of the N-back task. A decoder identifies one frequency as optimal frequency and another as suboptimal frequency. Reaction Time during optimal, suboptimal, and no stimulation condition is assessed by taking average of reaction time on accurate trials with faster reaction times indicating better performance.

GroupValue95% CI
N-Back Performance During Optimal Stimulation0.5853± 0.0980
N-back Performance During Suboptimal Stimulation0.5978± 0.1496
N-back Performance During No Stimulation0.6012± 0.0961
Accuracy Changes During N-Back Task in Responses to Different TMS Frequencies Primary · Single visit (~2 hours)

During the TMS/fMRI scan, participants perform a working memory task (N-back). To evaluate how different repetitive TMS frequencies (5, 10, and 20 Hz) impact accuracy during N-back task, each rTMS train is followed by a block of the N-back task. A decoder identifies one frequency as optimal frequency and another as suboptimal frequency. Accuracy during optimal, suboptimal, and no stimulation condition is assessed by taking average of all the trials with better accuracy indicating better performance.

GroupValue95% CI
N-Back Performance During Optimal Stimulation91.27± 16.30
N-back Performance During Suboptimal Stimulation90.71± 12.87
N-back Performance During No Stimulation90.54± 13.14
Reaction Time Changes in the Delayed Matching to Sample Task Following Optimal vs. Suboptimal rTMS Stimulation Primary · Up to 1 month

Each subject completes two 3-day neuromodulation sessions, one using their 'optimal' rTMS frequency, and the other using their 'suboptimal' rTMS frequency, as determined by their TMS/fMRI visit. After each neuromodulation session, subjects complete a working memory task (Delayed Match to Sample). The delay period reflects how long participants can retain the information in working memory. Common delay periods used in research, including our study, are 0 seconds, 4 seconds, and 12 seconds.The outcome measure shows the reaction time for each of these variables.

Reaction Time (0 sec delay)
GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-12.0173± 0.1423
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-21.7568± 0.0890
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-31.9316± 0.1862
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-12.0608± 0.1542
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-21.9118± 0.1068
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-31.9139± 0.1163
Reaction Time (4 sec delay)
GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-12.6640± 0.1936
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-22.4269± 0.1537
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-32.1726± 0.1292
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-12.3907± 0.1615
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-22.3268± 0.1694
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-32.4788± 0.2135
Reaction Time (12 sec delay)
GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-12.7351± 0.1588
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-22.5593± 0.1995
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-32.4400± 0.1602
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-12.4901± 0.1377
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-22.5741± 0.2054
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-32.6478± 0.2501
Accuracy Changes in the Delayed Matching to Sample Task Following Optimal vs. Suboptimal rTMS Stimulation Primary · Up to 1 month

Each subject completes two 3-day neuromodulation sessions, one using their 'optimal' rTMS frequency, and the other using their 'suboptimal' rTMS frequency, as determined by their TMS/fMRI visit. After each neuromodulation session, subjects complete a working memory task (Delayed Match to Sample). The delay period reflects how long participants can retain the information in working memory. Common delay periods used in research, including our study, are 0 seconds, 4 seconds, and 12 seconds.The outcome measure shows the accuracy for each of these variables.

Accuracy (0 sec delay)
GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-184.2667± 3.2161
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-288.1011± 2.0073
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-383.9079± 3.6464
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-186.0638± 2.7408
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-287.8524± 2.3671
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-384.3748± 2.8921
Accuracy (4 sec delay)
GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-179.5037± 2.6388
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-278.1085± 2.7024
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-384.4127± 2.8358
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-178.2541± 3.0680
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-281.3003± 3.5756
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-377.5741± 2.8761
Accuracy (12 sec delay)
GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-179.4809± 2.7578
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-277.6172± 3.0897
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-388.0465± 2.5656
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-176.4133± 3.4818
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-276.1351± 3.1626
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-379.9014± 3.4101
Reaction Time Changes in the Reaction Time Index Task Following Optimal vs. Suboptimal rTMS Stimulation Secondary · Up to 1 month

Each subject completes two 3-day neuromodulation sessions, one using their 'optimal' rTMS frequency, and the other using their 'suboptimal' rTMS frequency, as determined by their TMS/fMRI visit. After each neuromodulation session, subjects complete a reaction time index task that acted as a control task. The outcome measure shows the reaction time.

GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-10.716± 0.072
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-20.722± 0.108
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-30.687± 0.085
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-10.736± 0.117
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-20.713± 0.102
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-30.693± 0.093
Movement Time Changes in the Reaction Time Index Task Following Optimal vs. Suboptimal rTMS Stimulation Secondary · Up to 1 month

Each subject completes two 3-day neuromodulation sessions, one using their 'optimal' rTMS frequency, and the other using their 'suboptimal' rTMS frequency, as determined by their TMS/fMRI visit. After each neuromodulation session, subjects complete a reaction time index task that acted as a control task. The outcome measure shows the movement time.

GroupValue95% CI
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-10.411± 0.049
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-20.417± 0.087
Optimal Neuromodulation Day-30.381± 0.072
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-10.411± 0.098
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-20.406± 0.074
Suboptimal Neuromodulation Day-30.395± 0.076

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: Adverse event data was collected from study enrollment until study completion (up to 8 weeks). Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Optimal rTMS Frequency
Serious: 0/24 (0%)
Deaths: 0/24
Sub-Optimal rTMS Frequency
Serious: 0/24 (0%)
Deaths: 0/24
Other adverse events (4 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemOptimal rTMS FrequencySub-Optimal rTMS Frequency
HeadacheNervous system disorders
Jaw and Facial Muscle SorenessMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Tear FormationMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Anxiety/Panic/DiscomfortNervous system disorders

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04402294 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

The study is investigating working memory brain states by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The study uses a novel, individualized targeting approach for TMS based on each subject's individual multi-modal fMRI data. The individualized target will be stimulated in a TMS/ fMRI imaging session to investigate working memory states and optimal stimulation frequencies.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Memory

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other University of Pennsylvania trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

Verify against primary sources

Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT04402294.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing