Using Electroencephalography (EEG) and Transcranial Current Stimulation (tCS) to Study and Modulate Cognition Study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Inter-individual Variability
• Interventions: Device: Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation

• Registration Number: NCT03293316
• Lead Sponsor: University of Oxford

Brief Summary

Inter-individual variability in responsiveness to interventions poses great challenges for translational neuroscience, and health care in general. The investigations sought to examine the potential for high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) to modulate sustained attention in a manner that was informed by individual differences in EEG indices.

Detailed Description

Inter-individual variability in responsiveness to interventions poses great challenges for translational neuroscience, and health care in general. Reliable and cost- effective screening procedures that can identify individuals who are more likely to benefit from an intervention could have substantial real-world benefits. Here, the investigators sought to examine the potential for high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) to modulate sustained attention in a manner that was informed by individual differences in a well-studied electrocortical marker, spontaneous theta/beta ratio. The investigators hypothesized that individuals with relatively high theta/beta ratios, putatively reflecting suboptimal cortical arousal, would be more likely to benefit from the gains in cortical excitability afforded by tRNS. Seventy-two young healthy adults were administered 1mA, 2mA and sham tRNS in a double-blind, randomised, cross-over manner, while they performed a continuous monitoring paradigm. Electroencephalography was acquired before and after each stimulation condition.

This approach may constitute a feasible means of using individual differences in neurophysiology to inform predictions about outcomes from targeted cognitive interventions.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-11
• Primary Completion: 2016-10
• Study Completion: 2016-10
• Status Verified: 2017-09
• Study First Submitted: 2017-09-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-09-21
• Study First Posted: 2017-09-26
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-09-29
• Last Update Posted: 2017-10-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 72

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sham Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation	Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation	The sham tRNS condition involves 30 seconds of 1.5 mA tRNS, with a ramping period of 30 seconds at the onset and offset. This procedure ensures that, in both the Active and Sham conditions, participants experience the sensations associated with the onset of transcranial electrical stimulation (e.g., tingling sensation)
1mA Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation	Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation	The 1mA tRNS condition consists of 1 mA peak-to-peak (-.5 mA to .5 mA) high frequency noise (100-500 Hz), with amplitude values that are normally distributed and have a mean of zero. The stimulation is delivered for 20 minutes, with a ramping period of 30 seconds at the onset and offset.
2mA Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation	Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation	The only factor that varies for the 2mA tRNS condition is that the high frequency noise has a peak-to-peak of -1 mA to 1mA as opposed to -.5 mA to .5 mA. Again, the stimulation is delivered for 20 minutes, with a ramping period of 30 seconds at the onset and offset.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Electroencephalography	4 minutes	Voltage readings from the scalp

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sustained Attention performance	20 minutes	Sustained Attention performance was defined as response time variability on a continuous monitoring paradigm