Cognitive Embodiment Activation by tDCS

Healthy Young Adults Clinical Trial

— GEST  

Official title:

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Gestural-verbal Brain Associations: the Role of Cognitive Embodiment

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03094520
• Other study ID #: GEST
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 1, 2016
• Est. completion date: October 1, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: May 2021
• Source: Charite University, Berlin, Germany
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The main objective of the proposed research is to extend our understanding of how gesture and language interact, focusing on the role of cognitive embodiment in this interaction, and to explore the neural systems that support links between language and actions systems.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 22
• Est. completion date: October 1, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: May 1, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 30 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Right handedness

• unobtrusive neuropsychological screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of severe alcoholism or use of drugs.

• Severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis (if not in remission) and severe untreated medical problems.

• Contraindication for MRT (claustrophobia, metallic implants, ferromagnetic metals in the body, disorders of thermoregulation, pregnant women).

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy Young Adults

Intervention

Device:
• tDCS
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
• sham-tDCS
sham stimulation

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Germany	Charité	Berlin

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Germany, 

References & Publications (3)

Cohen-Maximov T, Avirame K, Flöel A, Lavidor M. Modulation of Gestural-verbal Semantic Integration by tDCS. Brain Stimul. 2015 May-Jun;8(3):493-8. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2014.12.001. Epub 2014 Dec 11. — View Citation

Flöel A, Ellger T, Breitenstein C, Knecht S. Language perception activates the hand motor cortex: implications for motor theories of speech perception. Eur J Neurosci. 2003 Aug;18(3):704-8. — View Citation

Flöel A, Rösser N, Michka O, Knecht S, Breitenstein C. Noninvasive brain stimulation improves language learning. J Cogn Neurosci. 2008 Aug;20(8):1415-22. doi: 10.1162/jocn.2008.20098. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	response time in semantic decision task	Comparing response time in semantic decision task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)	assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of semantic decision task (last approximately 10 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks
Primary	performance in attentional load task	Attentional load task: Participants are presented with a 6 positions ring that includes different shapes, they have to press V when they see a square and N when they see a diamond. They will have to ignore any shapes other than square and diamond within the ring or distractors that appear outside the ring.; Comparing performance in attentional load task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)	assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of attentional load task (last approximately 6 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks
Primary	performance in motor task	Motor Task: Participants are presented with a red Box and they have to click a button each time they see it as fast as they can.; Comparing performance in motor task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)	assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of motor task (last approximately 4 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks
Secondary	Functional connectivity predictors	Connectivity as measured by resting-state fMRI during baseline as predictors for performance and tDCS responsiveness	assessed during baseline testing
Secondary	Other cognitive outcomes: change in working memory performance	Digit span backward performance assessed before (baseline) and after stimulation to test for tDCS effects on working memory	change in working memory performance from baseline after 30 min (approximately)
Secondary	Other cognitive outcomes: change in Attention performance	Digit span forward performance assessed before baseline) and after stimulation to test for tDCS effects on attention	change in attention performance from baseline after 30 min (approximately)