TMS-evoked Potentials During Aerobic Exercise

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Clinical Trial

— TMS-EEGxercise  

Official title:

The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Brain Connectivity

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06084455
• Other study ID #: N-20210047-4
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 15, 2023
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: Aalborg University
• Contact: Enrico De Martino
• Phone: +4591811183
• Email: edm[@]hst.aau.dk
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study investigates the modification of the local-to-global connectivity pattern in response to a session of aerobic exercise. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be applied to elicit electroencephalography (EEG) responses in healthy volunteers. The TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) will be recorded and serve as a reflection of cortical reactivity and connectivity to TMS.

Description:

Chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders rank second only to mental and behavioural disorders as a major contributor to worldwide years lived with disability. Chronic musculoskeletal pain restricts mobility, decreases cardiorespiratory capacity and musculoskeletal function, and ultimately reduces exercise capacity and quality of life. Thus, there is an urgent need for new, effective, and affordable strategies to address this growing problem, particularly in health systems around the world.

Abnormal brain connectivity patterns disrupt normal brain function in a specific neural network, causing brain circuit malfunctions and resulting in symptoms such as chronic pain. The advent of electroencephalography (EEG) compatible with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS-EEG) has allowed the measurement of the cortical excitability and connectivity of a single pulse of TMS in any scalp region, providing insights into cortical excitability and connectivity that were not previously possible with techniques exclusively based on MEP, create a map of activation caused by a localized pulse of stimulation. Furthermore, TMS-EEG allows recording the spread and the characteristics of the perturbations caused by a single TMS pulse across the cortex (recorded by several electrodes from an EEG cap). Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on brain functioning. Regular exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells and improves the survival of existing ones. Studies have shown that regular exercise improves cognitive function, memory, and mood, and exercise has been linked to increased production of neurotransmitters, hormones, and growth factors that promote brain health. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on brain excitability and connectivity.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women

• Speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs

• Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses

• Lack of ability to cooperate

• History of chronic pain or current acute pain

• Contraindications to rTMS application (history of epilepsy, metal in the head or jaw etc.).

• Failure to pass the "TASS questionnaire" (TASS = Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Adult Safety Screen)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aerobic Exercise
• Electroencephalography
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Intervention

Other:
• Aerobic exercise
30 minutes of aerobic exercise on a stationary bike

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	Aalborg University	Gistrup	Nordjylland

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Aalborg University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Cortical connectivity	Global and local mean field amplitude	Cortical connectivity changes will be investigated before and after 30-min aerobic exercise (1 hour)
Secondary	Cortical excitability	TMS-evoked potentials	Cortical excitability changes will be investigated before and after 30-min aerobic exercise (1 hour)