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Memantine Effects on Sensorimotor Gating and Neurocognition in Schizophrenia

Memantine Effects on Sensorimotor Gating and Neurocognition in Schizophrenia

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03860597
Enrollment
42
Registered
2019-03-04
Start date
2018-04-01
Completion date
2021-03-31
Last updated
2022-12-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizo Affective Disorder, Schizophrenia

Brief summary

This application seeks to determine if neurophysiological metrics of memantine (MEM)-enhanced early auditory information processing (EAIP) in schizophrenia (SZ) mediate gains in auditory processing fidelity (APF) and auditory learning.

Interventions

DRUGMemantine

To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS.

DRUGPlacebos

To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS.

Sponsors

University of California, San Diego
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* diagnosis of schizophrenia OR schizoaffective-depressed OR healthy subjects * ages 18-50 for all subjects * double barrier contraception for all subjects * not pregnant for all subjects

Exclusion criteria

* DSM-IV Axis I or II Diagnosis for for healthy subjects * MEM or amantadine for patients * current substance abuse for all subjects * current recreational drug use for all subjects * history of other significant medical illness (e.g. cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, seizures) for all subjects * open head injury or closed head injury with loss of consciousness \> 1 min for all subjects * hearing or visual impairment for all subjects * pregnancy for all subjects * dementia for all subjects * mental retardation for all subjects

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Prepulse Inhibition (PPI)7 and 14 days post baselinePPI of the startle reflex is the automatic reduction in startle magnitude (assessed by EMG of orbicularis oculi) when a startling stimulus (40 ms 118 dB(A) noise burst; PULSE) is preceded (10-120 msec) by a weak stimulus (here a 20 msec burst 16 dB over background PREPULSE). A %PPI metric is calculated based on the relative startle magnitude on (PREPULSE + PULSE) trials vs. PULSE alone trials. Possible maximal inhibition is 100%; there is no maximal negative value of inhibition. There is no clear advantage or disadvantage for lower or higher %PPI values, though on average, schizophrenia patients demonstrate lower % values compared to matched healthy subjects. Day 1 was baseline testing: testing occurred, data was collected, but no intervention was given. There were two possible interventions: active (MEM 20 mg po) and placebo. One intervention was given on day 7 post baseline, the other intervention was given on day 14 post baseline, with order of intervention balanced.
Mismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.7 and 14 days post baseline85 dB SPL stimuli were presented via Etymotic ER3-A insert earphones. A 4-tone auditory oddball paradigm with 82% standards & 18% deviant stimuli, differed from standard in pitch, duration, or both. A pseudorandomized sequence produced a minimum of 3 standard tones between each deviant stimulus. All tones had 5-ms rise/fall times presented with a fixed 500-ms stimulus onset asynchrony. Subjects viewed a silent movie & instructed to ignore auditory stimuli. EEG were continuously recorded at a sampling rate of 2048-Hz from 64 channels, using BioSemi ActiveTwo system & downsampled to 512-Hz. Deviant-minus-standard difference waves were generated for each deviant type & low-pass filtered (20-Hz zerophase shift, 24 dB/octave rolloff). MMN was computed as mean amplitude across 135-205 ms range for each deviant type in difference waveforms at electrode Fz. Data were analyzed by RM-ANOVA, with diagnosis as a between-subject factor, & drug condition (placebo vs MEM) as a within-subject factor.
Gamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.7 and 14 days post baseline1 ms, 85 dB clicks were presented in 500 ms trains at a frequency of 40 Hz; 250 click trains were played (inter-train interval=0.5 s). EEG was continuously recorded with 64-channel BioSemi ActiveTwo system (sampling rate=2048 Hz). Data processed offline via Matlab, EEGlab, & BrainVision Analyzer. Continuous data were segmented relative to stimulus onset (-100 ms to 500 ms) & each epoch was baseline-corrected relative to 100 ms pre-stimulus interval. γEP was assessed based on first 100 artifact-free epochs at Fz. Averaged epochs across click trains were transformed into power spectrum via fast Fourier transform using a bin width of 2 Hz. 40 Hz power spectrum was averaged across 4 Hz band from 38-42 Hz. Data were analyzed by RM-ANOVA, with diagnosis as a between- & drug condition (placebo vs MEM) as a within-subject factor. Analyses revealed robust & time bin-independent effects of diagnosis & drug across 200-500 ms window & thus this interval was the focus of all subsequent analyses.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg Memantine
Memantine: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS. Placebos: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS.
11
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then Placebo
Memantine: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS. Placebos: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS.
11
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg Memantine
Memantine: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS. Placebos: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS.
10
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then Placebo
Memantine: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS. Placebos: To assess the acute effects of MEM (0 vs. 20 mg) on measures of auditory processing fidelity, auditory learning and EAIP, in AP-medicated adult SZ patients and HS.
10
Total42

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicSubjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineSubjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboHealthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineHealthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
11 Participants11 Participants10 Participants10 Participants42 Participants
Age, Continuous40.1 years41.0 years29.6 years29.3 years35.3 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
3 Participants3 Participants6 Participants6 Participants18 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
8 Participants7 Participants4 Participants4 Participants23 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
2 Participants0 Participants4 Participants2 Participants8 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants2 Participants6 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants2 Participants0 Participants1 Participants5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants3 Participants0 Participants1 Participants5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants2 Participants0 Participants0 Participants3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
4 Participants3 Participants3 Participants4 Participants14 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants5 Participants6 Participants6 Participants23 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants6 Participants4 Participants4 Participants19 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 110 / 110 / 100 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 110 / 110 / 100 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 110 / 110 / 100 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Gamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.

1 ms, 85 dB clicks were presented in 500 ms trains at a frequency of 40 Hz; 250 click trains were played (inter-train interval=0.5 s). EEG was continuously recorded with 64-channel BioSemi ActiveTwo system (sampling rate=2048 Hz). Data processed offline via Matlab, EEGlab, & BrainVision Analyzer. Continuous data were segmented relative to stimulus onset (-100 ms to 500 ms) & each epoch was baseline-corrected relative to 100 ms pre-stimulus interval. γEP was assessed based on first 100 artifact-free epochs at Fz. Averaged epochs across click trains were transformed into power spectrum via fast Fourier transform using a bin width of 2 Hz. 40 Hz power spectrum was averaged across 4 Hz band from 38-42 Hz. Data were analyzed by RM-ANOVA, with diagnosis as a between- & drug condition (placebo vs MEM) as a within-subject factor. Analyses revealed robust & time bin-independent effects of diagnosis & drug across 200-500 ms window & thus this interval was the focus of all subsequent analyses.

Time frame: 7 and 14 days post baseline

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Placebo0.08 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.02
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Memantine0.09 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.04
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Memantine0.06 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.02
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Placebo0.07 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.02
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Placebo0.14 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.03
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Memantine0.23 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.06
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Placebo0.14 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.03
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboGamma Auditory Steady-state Response (ASSR). The Primary Unit of Measure of Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is Gamma Evoked Power (γEP), Expressed as Microvolts-squared.Memantine0.23 Microvolts-squaredStandard Error 0.06
Primary

Mismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.

85 dB SPL stimuli were presented via Etymotic ER3-A insert earphones. A 4-tone auditory oddball paradigm with 82% standards & 18% deviant stimuli, differed from standard in pitch, duration, or both. A pseudorandomized sequence produced a minimum of 3 standard tones between each deviant stimulus. All tones had 5-ms rise/fall times presented with a fixed 500-ms stimulus onset asynchrony. Subjects viewed a silent movie & instructed to ignore auditory stimuli. EEG were continuously recorded at a sampling rate of 2048-Hz from 64 channels, using BioSemi ActiveTwo system & downsampled to 512-Hz. Deviant-minus-standard difference waves were generated for each deviant type & low-pass filtered (20-Hz zerophase shift, 24 dB/octave rolloff). MMN was computed as mean amplitude across 135-205 ms range for each deviant type in difference waveforms at electrode Fz. Data were analyzed by RM-ANOVA, with diagnosis as a between-subject factor, & drug condition (placebo vs MEM) as a within-subject factor.

Time frame: 7 and 14 days post baseline

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Placebo-3.15 microvoltsStandard Error 0.45
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Memantine-2.44 microvoltsStandard Error 0.54
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Memantine-1.70 microvoltsStandard Error 0.28
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Placebo-1.60 microvoltsStandard Error 0.31
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Memantine-3.28 microvoltsStandard Error 0.5
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantineMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Placebo-3.52 microvoltsStandard Error 0.5
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Memantine-3.28 microvoltsStandard Error 0.5
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboMismatch Negativity (MMN); Unit of Measure of MMN is Microvolts.Placebo-3.52 microvoltsStandard Error 0.5
Primary

Prepulse Inhibition (PPI)

PPI of the startle reflex is the automatic reduction in startle magnitude (assessed by EMG of orbicularis oculi) when a startling stimulus (40 ms 118 dB(A) noise burst; PULSE) is preceded (10-120 msec) by a weak stimulus (here a 20 msec burst 16 dB over background PREPULSE). A %PPI metric is calculated based on the relative startle magnitude on (PREPULSE + PULSE) trials vs. PULSE alone trials. Possible maximal inhibition is 100%; there is no maximal negative value of inhibition. There is no clear advantage or disadvantage for lower or higher %PPI values, though on average, schizophrenia patients demonstrate lower % values compared to matched healthy subjects. Day 1 was baseline testing: testing occurred, data was collected, but no intervention was given. There were two possible interventions: active (MEM 20 mg po) and placebo. One intervention was given on day 7 post baseline, the other intervention was given on day 14 post baseline, with order of intervention balanced.

Time frame: 7 and 14 days post baseline

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantinePrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Placebo32.45 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 5.11
Subjects With Schizophrenia: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantinePrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Memantine10.11 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 12.88
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboPrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Memantine20.55 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 4.07
Subjects With Schizophrenia: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboPrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Placebo26.85 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 6.77
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantinePrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Placebo14.11 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 8.97
Healthy Subjects: Placebo 1st, Then 20 mg MemantinePrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Memantine21.36 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 4.56
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboPrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Placebo11.78 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 8.73
Healthy Subjects: 20 mg Memantine 1st, Then PlaceboPrepulse Inhibition (PPI)Memantine25.55 % inhibition of startleStandard Error 6.37

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026