This study to find out whether a type of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation called transcranial electrical stimulation with temporal interference (TES-TI) can temporarily change brain activity during sleep-especially sleep spindles (brain rhythms in the \~8-16 Hz range). The investigators are focusing on the thalamus, a deep brain region that helps coordinate brain activity during non-REM sleep. Sleep spindles are often reduced in schizophrenia, so this study is to see whether TES-TI can change spindle activity in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and in healthy adults. To study this, a structural MRI scan will be used to customize where the stimulation electrodes are placed, and then TES-TI will be applied during one of two overnight sleep lab visits while brain activity is recorded with high-density EEG and standard sleep sensors. The other overnight is a baseline/control night during which only sham stimulation is delivered. The goal is to determine whether TES-TI during sleep can increase spindle-frequency activity in this population.
U.S. citizen or holding permanent resident status
English-speaking
DSM-5 schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) diagnosis, defined as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder (confirmed by clinical interview and/or chart review)
Chronic illness, defined as diagnosis of SSD for at least 1 year
Current or past history of clinically significant neurological disorder or acquired neurological disease (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions (including clinically significant findings identified on the structural MRI)
Active suicidal ideation, plan, or intent (assessed via PHQ-9 item 9 and follow-up Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Screener; see Safety Response Procedure)
Inability to provide informed consent, including inadequate decisional capacity in the judgment of the study team and/or study psychiatrist
History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness; or a history of >3 grade I concussions
Parallel
TES-TI
DeviceDuring the stimulation night, TES-TI will be delivered during stable N2 sleep in 3-minute epochs separated by 6-minute intervals, with up to 20 protocols per night, using randomized 10 Hz, 14 Hz, and carrier-only control conditions under continuous sleep-technician monitoring.
Sham TES-TI
Deviceramp-sham stimulation only
Change in spindle-frequency activity (8-16 Hz spectral power)
Change in spindle density
8-16 Hz spectral power
Change in spindle amplitude
8-16 Hz spectral power
Change in spindle duration
8-16 Hz spectral power
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University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead sponsor
Alkermes, Inc.
Collaborator
