Impact of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Left DLPFC on Language Switching

Languages Clinical Trial

Official title:

Impact of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on Language Switching and Cognitive Flexibility

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03148470
• Other study ID #: SNF325130_156937_4
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 2016
• Est. completion date: July 2019

Study information

• Verified date: April 2020
• Source: University of Fribourg
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether theta burst stimulation (TBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) influences language switching and cognitive flexibility. The experimental paradigm will assess the impact of inhibitory and excitatory prefrontal stimulation by TBS versus sham-TBS over the DLPFC in healthy bilinguals.

Description:

Background:

Clinical observations and neuroimaging studies seem to confirm the role of executive functions and frontal structures in language processing in bilingual subjects.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, such as for example theta burst stimulation (TBS), is increasingly being used as a valuable tool for neuroscientists investigating the underlying mechanisms of cognitive functions. Case studies have shown a change in language switching after bilingual patients received repetitive magnetic stimulation to the left DLPFC. However, there is no study investigating the effect of TBS applied to the DLPFC on language switching in healthy participants.

Procedure:

A planned total of 40 unbalanced bilingual participants will be included. Half of the participants will receive inhibitory theta burst stimulation (continuous TBS), the other half excitatory theta burst stimulation (intermittent TBS). After TBS, different language and nonverbal tasks will be performed while an EEG is measured. Before being stimulated, each subject will conduct the same tasks with a sham-TBS as a baseline measure.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 41
• Est. completion date: July 2019
• Est. primary completion date: July 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 45 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• L1 (Swiss)German, knowledge of English as a foreign language

• 18-45 years of age

• right-handedness

Exclusion Criteria:

• epilepsy / family history of epilepsy

• brain surgery, traumatic brain injuries

• cardiac pacemaker, metallic objects in the head

• history of neurological diseases or severe psychiatric disorders

• drug use (alcohol, psychoactive medication)

• strong headache

• pregnancy

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Languages

Intervention

Device:
• Sham iTBS
Placebo stimulation for the iTBS group
• Sham cTBS
Placebo stimulation for the cTBS group
• intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS)
Excitatory theta burst stimulation
• continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS)
inhibitory theta burst stimulation

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Switzerland	Laboratory for Cognitive and Neurological Sciences	Fribourg

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Jean-Marie Annoni

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Switzerland, 

References & Publications (3)

Holtzheimer P, Fawaz W, Wilson C, Avery D. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may induce language switching in bilingual patients. Brain Lang. 2005 Sep;94(3):274-7. — View Citation

Lefaucheur JP, André-Obadia N, Antal A, Ayache SS, Baeken C, Benninger DH, Cantello RM, Cincotta M, de Carvalho M, De Ridder D, Devanne H, Di Lazzaro V, Filipovic SR, Hummel FC, Jääskeläinen SK, Kimiskidis VK, Koch G, Langguth B, Nyffeler T, Oliviero A, Padberg F, Poulet E, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Rothwell JC, Schönfeldt-Lecuona C, Siebner HR, Slotema CW, Stagg CJ, Valls-Sole J, Ziemann U, Paulus W, Garcia-Larrea L. Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Clin Neurophysiol. 2014 Nov;125(11):2150-2206. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.05.021. Epub 2014 Jun 5. Review. — View Citation

Nardone R, De Blasi P, Bergmann J, Caleri F, Tezzon F, Ladurner G, Golaszewski S, Trinka E. Theta burst stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates pathological language switching: A case report. Neurosci Lett. 2011 Jan 10;487(3):378-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.10.060. Epub 2010 Oct 29. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	RTs for Picture Naming With the Factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching)	Picture naming with the factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching): Speech onset times (msec) L1 refers to the mother tongue. L2 refers to the late acquired (> age 7) second language. Switching Block refers to a language switching block with picture naming alternated between the mother tongue and the second language.; Non-Switching Block refers to a block of picture naming either only in the mother or only in the second language.	Within 30 minutes after intervention
Secondary	Nonverbal Switching	Nonverbal Switching: response times	Within 30 minutes after intervention