Testing of an Interface for Synchronizing tACS-DBS With a Phase-locked-loop

The investigators aim to test an interface to phase-lock transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) for future studies investigating the effects of different time-lags between DBS and tACS on the behavioural and neural level. To test if the interface works in patients with DBS, the investigators record EEG during synchronized tACS-DBS in several patients. The investigators hypothesize that they can apply tACS at the desired phase-lags relative to DBS pulses and confirm this with EEG measurements of the DBS and tACS artifact.

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Key information

Conditions

Deep Brain Stimulation Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Age range

35 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Hamburg, 20246, Germany

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Provision of written informed consent by the patient
Age 35 - 85
patient groups: Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia
>3 months after surgery for DBS

Exclusion criteria

Epilepsy or history of seizures
Existence of heart pacemaker or other metal implants in the body (except DBS)
Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

DBS-coupled tACS

Device

tACS will be applied in a phase-coupled manner, so that tACS and DBS are synchronized

Primary outcomes

Phase-locking success (delay to intended phase)

Time frame: during stimulation procedure

The investigators will measure the temporal precision of the locking of the tACS to the DBS pulses should be seen. To this end, the tACS-DBS artifact and the triggers given from the interface device will be analysed offline in MATLAB.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Other

Collaborators

University of Oxford
University of Twente

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Aug 24, 2025
Registry last updated: Jun 30, 2026

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

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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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