Recruiting

Cognitive Control Training

Sponsor:

VA Office of Research and Development

Code:

NCT06629064

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

Stress Disorders, Traumatic

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Working Memory Training

Sham Training

Study Details

Brief summary:

The proposed study will test whether a working memory training (WMT) program improves fear extinction learning and its underlying neural circuitry in Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). WMT is designed to improves the ability to maintain task-relevant information in mind. The project will further validate the relationship between working memory and fear extinction using novel computational and multivariate analyses that link to specific PTSD symptoms. If WMT can enhance fear extinction learning, then WMT may be a powerful adjunctive treatment that can enhance exposure therapy outcomes or be leveraged as a stand-alone treatment. This project supports the Department of Veteran Affairs mission of developing viable targets of treatment for Veterans with PTSD.

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

Stress Disorders, Traumatic

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Study ID

NCT06629064

Start date

Oct 1, 2024

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Sep 30, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep 30, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Fluent in English
  • Meet current DSM-5 criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
  • Are willing to attend 8 total remote sessions of working memory training over course of four weeks
  • Are willing to attend MRI scans pre and post working memory training
  • 4-week stability on pharmacological and psychosocial treatments

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A lifetime history of psychotic disorders, lifetime history of bipolar disorder
  • Past-year severe substance use and severe alcohol use disorder. Mild-to-moderate alcohol use disorder will be allowed to enhance generalizability in our sample due to the high comorbidity of alcohol use and PTSD
  • History of any neurological disorder that might be associated with cognitive dysfunction (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, intracranial surgery, aneurysm, seizure disorder)
  • Acute suicidality requiring immediate clinical intervention
  • Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, mild to moderate levels of TBI (mTBI) will be included
  • Receiving benzodiazepines or medications with anticholinergic effects that may affect fear learning measures
  • Inability to safely complete fMRI session (i.e., metal in body, medical implants)

Study Design

Enrollment

120 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Working Memory Training

Computer-administered working memory training program. WMT is a modified working memory capacity task designed to train working memory functioning. WMT is designed to contain high interference across trials and is adaptive to performance. As participants improve working memory, the task becomes more difficult.

sham comparator: Sham Training

The Sham condition requires participants to complete a similar computer task for the same length of time. The Sham Training is a modified working memory capacity task designed to place less demands on working memory.

Interventions

Working Memory Training

Computer-administered working memory training program. WMT is a modified working memory capacity task designed to train working memory functioning. WMT is designed to contain high interference across trials and is adaptive to performance. As participants improve working memory, the task becomes more difficult.

Sham Training

The Sham condition requires participants to complete a similar computer task for the same length of time. The Sham Training is a modified working memory capacity task designed to place less demands on working memory.

Primary outcome measure

  • Behavioral Threat Expectancy Ratings During Extinction Performance [ Time Frame: Baseline, Approximately 5 or 6 weeks ]
  • Extinction Electrodermal Activity Response [ Time Frame: Baseline, Approximately 5 or 6 weeks ]
  • Extinction Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) Response [ Time Frame: Baseline, Approximately 5 or 6 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Daniel M Stout, PhD

(858) 642-3944Daniel.Stout@va.gov

Locations

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA

Recruiting

San Diego, California, United States, 92161-0002

Contacts

Daniel M Stout, PhD

(858) 642-3944Daniel.Stout@va.gov

Principal Investigator:

Daniel M Stout, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Last update posted

Aug 7, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
  • PTSD
  • cognitive training
  • working memory
  • Fear Extinction

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by VA Office of Research and Development on 2026-08-07.