NCT07389694

Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Stuttering

Modulating Bilateral Cortical Activation In Adults Who Stutter: A Pilot Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 2 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Kansas State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if repeated transcranial magnetic stimuli (rTMS) can treat stuttering in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will there be changes in the brains of people who stutter because of the treatment? * Will any changes in the brain result in less stuttering? Participants will: * Visit the lab 3 times before treatment for tests * Complete 10 rTMS sessions * Visit the lab 2 times after treatment for tests

Detailed description

Measures must be obtained to in preparation for TMS treatment. Structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) recordings will be obtained from the participant, and they will undergo a neuronavigational session to determine best placement for the electrodes. MRI/rsfMRI recordings: The structural MRIs will be obtained and used for TMS neuronavigation. Resting-state functional MRI will be recorded for 8 min with the eyes open. rTMS will be delivered at 10 Hz for 10 min with a stimulation intensity of 120% of the resting motor threshold (rMT). Neuronavigation: The TMS coil will be navigated with a neuronavigation system using the individual MRIs. rTMS targets: rTMS will be delivered to the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). We will use the neuronavigation system to identify the IFG. Three pre-treatment and 2 post-treatment sessions will each obtain data from the following measurements: * rs-EEG: rs-EEG responses will be recorded with eyes open for 5 minutes using a 64-channel EEG system. * Eye tracker: eye gaze fixations, dwell time, saccades, and gaze durations will be recorded while the participant completes several behavioral phonological memory tasks. * Spontaneous speech sample will be obtained to determine percent syllables stuttered.

Conditions

• Stuttering, Adult

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation	This study uses Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) applied to specific speech and motor areas of the brain to stimulate cortical areas that experience reduced activations during left-hemisphere dominant tasks in people who stutter.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-15
• Primary completion: 2027-03-15
• Completion: 2027-12-15
• First posted: 2026-02-05
• Last updated: 2026-02-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study