The Effect of Transcranial Direct-current Stimulation on Discourse Production in Healthy Older Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- King's College London
- Enrollment
- 14
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in percent of Correct Information Units
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) for rehabilitation of language is a growing field that needs further studies to determine how best it can be used to enhance treatment outcomes. It has been shown that tDCS can improve language performance in healthy and brain-injured individuals such as increased naming accuracy.
However, at present, it is not known what effect tDCS has on higher-level language skills like discourse production (i.e. story telling, giving instructions) in healthy, older speakers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate in healthy older adults, the effect of tDCS on discourse production as well as the ideal tDCS electrode placement for improving language at the discourse level. It is hypothesised that tDCS will result in greater language changes and improvements during discourse production compared to no stimulation.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to — (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •At least 65 years of age
- •Native English speakers
- •Right handed
- •Normal aided or unaided visual acuity
- •At least secondary school level of education
Exclusion Criteria
- •History of neurological disease or cognitive impairment
- •Any contraindication of tDCS (i.e. history of seizures, metal implants)
Arms & Interventions
anodal tDCS on the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)
Intervention: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) (Device)
anodal tDCS on the right IFG
Intervention: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) (Device)
sham tDCS
Intervention: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in percent of Correct Information Units
Time Frame: pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
The percent of accurately produced words that provide information relevant to the language task
Change in word total
Time Frame: pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
total number of words in a language sample
Change in utterance total
Time Frame: pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
total number of utterances (complete sentences including a predicate and argument) in a language sample
Change in verb total
Time Frame: pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
total number of verbs in a language sample
Secondary Outcomes
- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)(7 days)
- EPIC Physical Activity Questionnaire (EPAQ2)(12 months)
- The Keele Assessment of Participation (KAP)(4 weeks)