Investigating Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Accelerating Learning in a Healthy Older Population

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Associative Memory in Healthy Subjects
• Interventions: Device: Active tDCS; Device: Sham tDCS

• Registration Number: NCT03467698
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas

Brief Summary

The overall objective of this study is to explore whether transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can accelerate associative learning and boost associative memory in healthy subjects.

Detailed Description

The overall objective of this study is to explore whether transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can accelerate associative learning and boost associative memory in healthy subjects.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) stimulation during a verbal paired-associate learning task to determine if tDCS may be used as a way to enhance brain plasticity during an associative memory task, and to accelerate learning and to optimize associative memory performance. We hypothesize that participants who receive tDCS stimulation will improve their associative memory performance.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-02-21
• Study First Submitted: 2018-02-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-03-15
• Study First Posted: 2018-03-16
• Primary Completion: 2022-09-17
• Study Completion: 2022-10-21
• Results First Submitted: 2023-10-03
• Status Verified: 2023-12
• Results First Submitted QC: 2023-12-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-12-19
• Results First Posted: 2024-01-09
• Last Update Posted: 2024-01-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age between 55 and 75
2. Currently not using any medication contradicting with tDCS
3. Native English speaker
4. Capable of understanding and signing an informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Acquainted with the Swahili language or culture
2. Severe disease
3. Mental illness
4. Cardiac history
5. History of severe head injuries
6. History of epileptic insults
7. Any implanted devices such as pace maker, neurostimulator
8. Pregnancy

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Active tDCS	Active tDCS	active HD-tDCS will be administered
Sham tDCS	Sham tDCS	sham HD-tDCS will be administered

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance.	Memory performance changes will be assessed in two different visits. First assessment (baseline) on visit 1 (learning), then one-week after during visit 2 (memory)	Memory performance scores recorded in the computerized verbal paired-associate memory test during each visit will be compared between the two groups (active tDCS and sham tDCS).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas at Dallas; 🇺🇸 Richardson, Texas, United States