NCT07252011

Restorative Neurophysiology: Backing up and Restoring the Brain (BandR)

Restorative Neurophysiology: Feasibility of "Backup and Restore" Technologies for Brains and Bodies

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Study to examine the extent to which neurophysiological states recorded for a specific person on one day can be induced on a subsequent day

Detailed description

The study will be a single-arm design. It involves a longitudinal design in which subjective, physiological, and brain reactivity will be measured on 3 occasions, between \~2 weeks and \~4 months apart. The first assessment will be on a subjectively "good" day (mood rating above 7/10). The second will be on a subjectively "bad" day (mood rating below 3/10) and the third will be within a week of the second session. At the second and third sessions, participants will work to "restore" their brain state to that of the first assessment.

Conditions

• Adults With Variability in Their Mood

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)	Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a widely used non-invasive brain stimulation method. The concept underlying alternating current is to simulate the naturally occurring rhythmic pattern of electrophysiological activity of the brain, which can be detected by electroencephalography (EEG). It involves the application of electrodes onto the scalp, which deliver sinusoidal alternating electric currents.
BEHAVIORAL	Neuro/biofeedback	Participants will be shown their their brain EEG recordings and parameters from vocal recordings from their "backup" day, and asked to attempt to use behavioral strategies to match the recording
BEHAVIORAL	Recall	Participants will be given their subjective ratings and notes from a journaling interval to use as a target to restore their mood to how they were feeling on the Visit 1 backup day
DEVICE	Physiological stimulation	Facial electrical stimulation, and chest-worn vibroacoustic stimulation will be used to affect facial muscle activity and peripheral physiology to better approximate previously assessed states.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-01
• Primary completion: 2029-03-01
• Completion: 2029-03-01
• First posted: 2025-11-26
• Last updated: 2026-03-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States