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NCT Number: NCT07090135

Power Nap With TES-TI

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether stimulating the brain with electrical current during naps can increase certain kinds of brain activity that happen during sleep and lead to improvements in mental fatigue.

Participants will attend 2 study visits, each of which may last up to 4-5 hours. During these visits, participants will wear a high density electroencephalography (hdEEG) cap and take a nap.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Guilio Tononi, MD, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sean Prahl

CONTACT

[email protected]

262-395-8675

About this study

This project aims to use transcranial electrical stimulation with temporal interference (TES-TI) to enhance the production of sleep slow waves, boosting the restorative power of sleep and mitigating cognitive impairment (mental fatigue) and its underlying cause (brain fatigue).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18-75 of any gender identity
  • Self-reported non-restorative sleep, as measured by a REST-Q score
  • English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)
  • Capable of taking daytime naps
  • US Citizen

Exclusion criteria

  • Any current or history of neurological disorders or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury), including intracranial lesions
  • History of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
  • History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness; or a history of >3 grade I concussions
  • Current history of poorly controlled headaches including intractable or poorly controlled migraines
  • Any systemic illness or unstable medical condition that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
  • History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG, or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy except for a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
  • Possible pregnancy or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months
  • Any metal in the head
  • Any medical devices or implants (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator)
  • Dental implants
  • Permanent retainers
  • Any hair braid, dreadlocks, hair pieces, or extensions which cannot be taken out before the study sessions
  • Any head coverings or headdress that participant feels uncomfortable removing for the purposes of study sessions
  • Any medication that may alter seizure threshold taken during the study i.e., ADHD stimulants (Adderall, amphetamine); Tricyclic/atypical antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepine, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, bupropion); Antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, clozapine), Bronchodilators (theophylline, aminophylline); Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, imipenem, penicillin, cephalosporins, metronidazole, isoniazid); Antivirals (valacyclovir, ritonavir); OTC antihistamines (diphenhydramine, Benadryl)
  • Claustrophobia (a fear of small or closed places)
  • Back problems that would prevent lying flat for up to two hours
  • Regular night-shift work (second or third shift)

Treatment and study plan

Transcranial electrical stimulation with Temporal Interference (TES-TI)

Device

TES-TI uses specific electrode arrangement patterns to selectively stimulate the brain. Participants will wear an hdEEG (high density electroencephalography) cap which will allow intermittent periods of stimulation from TES-TI.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in slow waves

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    Researchers will do a power analysis on high density EEG data for slow wave frequency (3-5Hz) and see if there is increase in this frequency range during/post stimulation.

  2. Change in sleep quality and mood

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    Sleep quality and mood will be assessed using the Restorative Sleep Questionnaire (REST-Q), a 9-item questionnaire assessing aspects of restorative sleep. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, scores range from 9-45. A higher score indicates a more restorative sleep.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Sean Prahl

CONTACT

[email protected]

262-395-8675

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Collaborators

  • Corundum Convergence Institute

Registry information

Official study title

Enhance the Restorative Power of Sleep Through TES-TI Power Naps

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 29, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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