Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Code:

NCT06641297

Conditions

Schizophrenia Disorders

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 15 - 45

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Music video game

Study Details

Brief summary:

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with impairment in the microstructure of white matter, the key brain tissue responsible for fast communication between different brain regions necessary for any complex task. This white matter impairment is linked to problems with cognition in schizophrenia, especially slower processing speed. This project aims to study the potential for correcting white matter deficits in schizophrenia by examining mechanisms underlying white matter structure changes in response to training on playing a mock musical instrument.

Conditions

Schizophrenia Disorders

Study ID

NCT06641297

Start date

Jan 2, 2025

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 15 - 45

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, or psychosis NOS
  • age 15-45
  • able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • contraindications to MRI (metal implants, claustrophobia)
  • medical condition that limits use of hands (ie, arthritis)
  • Active or recent (within 6 months) substance use disorder other than nicotine

Study Design

Enrollment

36 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Active training

Training sessions involving playing the video game 'Guitar Hero'

placebo comparator: Observation training

Interventions

Music video game

The video game \'Guitar Hero\' will be used as the platform for training for participants to acquire a new \'skill\'

Primary outcome measure

  • White matter microstructure [ Time Frame: 3 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Joshua J Chiappelli, MD

4104026827jchiappe@som.umaryland.edu

Locations

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

Recruiting

Catonsville, Maryland, United States, 21228

Contacts

Joshua Chiappelli, MD

410-402-6827jchiappe@som.umaryland.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Last update posted

Feb 20, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • music
  • training
  • plasticity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Maryland, Baltimore on 2026-02-20.