Performance Enhancement and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

Motor Activity Clinical Trial

Official title:

Performance Enhancement and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02498574
• Other study ID #: M16-15-015
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 2016
• Est. completion date: August 2018

Study information

• Verified date: July 2019
• Source: Bruyere Research Institute
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

A promising form of enhancing brain function non-invasively involves stimulating the brain using weak magnetic or electric currents. This method is becoming increasingly popular in both clinical and commercial circles; a number of portable, at-home devices are available on the commercial market for personal use. In this study, the investigators aim to determine factors associated with the enhancement of cognitive and motor learning following transcranial direct-current stimulation in healthy young adults. Understanding how participants respond to brain stimulation is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of stimulation and determining its potential as a performance-enhancing aid for mental tasks. Future developments of this study may also inform the capacity of brain stimulation to act as non-drug alternative to treatment for cognitive decline.

Description:

This study involves a single session of anodal tDCS, applied over the motor cortex, while performing a task of motor dexterity. Pre and post stimulation evaluations will assess any effects of the stimulation on motor and cognitive performance.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 121
• Est. completion date: August 2018
• Est. primary completion date: August 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants must be in good health,

• between 18-35 years of age

• with no prior history of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke with paralysis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with cardiac stimulators (pace-makers) and those with metal implants in the skull will be excluded.

• Pregnant women will also be excluded.

Participants will be required to fill out a brief health questionnaire to ensure that they have no conditions that would prevent brain stimulation.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Brain Stimulation
• Executive Function
• Motor Activity

Intervention

Device:
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Non-invasive brain stimulation applied to the surface of the scalp

Behavioral:
• Working Memory Training
Cognitively challenging game played concurrently with transcranial direct-current stimulation

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Bruyere Continuing Care	Ottawa	Ontario
Canada	Bruyere Research Institute	Ottawa	Ontario

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Bruyere Research Institute

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in ratings on cognitive training survey	This survey aims to assess participant perceptions on brain stimulation, and includes a series of related questions, rated on a scale of 1-7.	Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
Primary	Change in cognitive performance	We will measure changes in cognitive performance on neuropsychological tests.	Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
Primary	Change in game performance	We will measure changes in performance on a cognitively-challenging game performed concurrently with the non-invasive brain stimulation.	Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
Primary	Change in motor performance	We will measure changes in motor performance on the Grooved Pegboard task.	Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period