Boosting The Intervention Effect of Negative Memory Through tACS Stimulation

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Seizures
• Interventions: Device: Active tACS Device; Device: Sham tACS Device

• Registration Number: NCT06375395
• Lead Sponsor: Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

Brief Summary

The objectives of this study include: 1) investigating the impact of negative memory substitution on an individual's other intellectual memories (i.e., neutral memories) and the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms; 2) investigating the memory enhancement effect resulting from retrieval practice associated with memory substitution intervention along with an examination of the neurocognitive mechanisms responsible for this enhancement.

Detailed Description

This study will adopt two memory updating strategies: retrieval practice and reactivation.

A 5-day memory updating experimental paradigm is used.

1. On the first day, the old memory A-B linkage is learned, where A represents a neutral word and B is either neutral or negative pictures (half of each, randomly scrambled).

2. On the second day, the old memory A-B association is consolidated again, and after a 15-minute break, the new memory A-C association is learned, where A is still the word A used in the old memory A-B association on the first day, and C is the new neutral and negative pictures (half of each, randomly scrambled, and with inconsistent categories of C and B in each pair of AC and AB). Immediately following this, the new memories of the A-C conjunctions are updated using both Retrieval practice and Restudy (control condition) memory strategies.

3. A-C is extracted/learned using both Retrieval practice and Restudy memory strategies on both day 3 and day 4.

4. On the fifth day, memory tests for associative memory strength, gist and detail memory, as well as emotional valence and strength are performed.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2023-11
• Study First Submitted: 2024-01-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-04-16
• Study First Posted: 2024-04-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-08-05
• Last Update Posted: 2024-08-07
• Study Start: 2024-08-15
• Primary Completion: 2024-12-15
• Study Completion: 2024-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

1. 14-60 years old, male or female, Han Chinese;
2. Drug-resistant epilepsy;
3. Required surgical implantation of SEEG electrodes.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Progressive encephalopathy or progressive structural damage in the central nervous system;
2. Significant heart, liver, renal insufficiency, and other medical diseases;
3. Severe side effects from taking antiepileptic drugs at the time of enrollment and not inappropriate for SEEG;
4. Significant intellectual disability;
5. A history of alcohol and drug abuse;
6. Any contraindication to MRI.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Active tACS	Active tACS Device	Those who participate in the treatment group will receive tACS, which lasts for 40 minutes per day on 3 consecutive days.
Sham tACS	Sham tACS Device	Those who participate in the control group will receive sham tACS, which lasts for 40 minutes per day on 3 consecutive days.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Negative memory retention	Day 5	The intervention could disrupt retention of associative negative memory and degree of detail of the negative memories in last A-C paired associate memory test.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The retention of associated neutral memories as assesses by the proportions of responses of correctly choosing picture category of B picture (A-Bneu) in last A-B paired associate memory test	Day 5	This measure is continuous rumination of negative memories (A-Cneg) will increase the strength of associated memories (A-Bneu).
The negative emotional intensity of neutral memory	Day 5	The emotion-diffusing effects of negative memory rumination as assesses by negative emotional intensity of neutral memories (A-Bneu),which is meature by the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) Measure Scales. The negative emotional intensity of neutral memories are more negative with constant retrieval practice of negative memories (A-Cneg) that is the emotion-diffusing effects of negative memory rumination.
The negative emotional intensity of negative memory	Day 5	The negative memories emotional relief as assesses by the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) Measure Scales in last A-C paired associate memory test.; This measure is constant retrieval practice of neutral memories (A-Cneu) will result in negative memories emotional relief (A-Bneg) compared to the restudy condition.