Probing TBS-induced Neural Plasticity and Associated Effects on Learning

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Device: Theta-burst stimulation

• Registration Number: NCT03756584
• Lead Sponsor: Dr Georg Kranz

Brief Summary

Recent animal research indicates that excitatory brain stimulation opens a time window of increased neural plasticity that permits remodeling of neural representations. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may thus facilitate learning of new associations by reducing proactive interference but human research is missing. Therefore, it is the aim of this study to investigate the effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), a potent form of excitatory brain stimulation, on associative memory. Twenty right handed healthy participants will receive 3 minutes of iTBS or sham stimulation of the left lateral parietal cortex after memorizing a set of 20 face-word associations. Recall capacity will be tested directly before and after stimulation. Participants will then learn a new combination of associations using the same set of stimuli, followed by an evaluation of their recall capacity. It is hypothesized that iTBS compared to sham stimulation will reduce recall capacity directly after the stimulation but increase recall capacity of the newly learned associations due to reduced proactive interference. This study may not only pave the way towards a new understanding of the mechanism of action of brain stimulation, but can also help in developing new treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-11-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-11-26
• Study First Posted: 2018-11-28
• Study Start: 2019-03-03
• Primary Completion: 2020-12-03
• Study Completion: 2020-12-03
• Status Verified: 2021-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-08-16
• Last Update Posted: 2021-08-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 75

Inclusion Criteria

• education level of primary six or above
• right-handedness
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion Criteria

• seizures in medical history
• current or past psychiatric disorders or severe internal or neurological illness
• common TMS exclusion criteria
• substance abuse or dependence
• intake of medication that is known to affect the excitation threshold

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intermittent theta-burst stimulation	Theta-burst stimulation	iTBS will be performed on the left lateral parietal cortex
Control stimulation	Theta-burst stimulation	iTBS will be performed on the vertex

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in recall capacity	Change from baseline to directly after stimulation (~6 min after baseline)	Change in the number of correct associations of a face-word association memory test

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong