Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Associative Learning in Older Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 10
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Performance in a verbal associative learning paradigm under anodal tDCS compared to sham tDCS.
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The aim of this study is to investigate whether a tDCS-accompanied training of audio-visual associative memory leads to a performance improvement in healthy older individuals.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 66 Years to — (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age: old-retired (≥66 years).
- •Right handedness
- •unobtrusive neuropsychological screening
Exclusion Criteria
- •Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or other neurological diseases.
- •History of severe alcoholism or use of drugs.
- •Severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis (if not in remission) and severe untreated medical problems.
- •Contraindication for MRI (claustrophobia, metallic implants, ferromagnetic metals in the body, disorders of thermoregulation, pregnant women)
Arms & Interventions
Anodal tDCS + training
Combination of intensive training of picture-word associations (Wernicko task) with anodal stimulation
Intervention: training (Behavioral)
Anodal tDCS + training
Combination of intensive training of picture-word associations (Wernicko task) with anodal stimulation
Intervention: tDCS (Device)
Sham tDCS + training
Combination of intensive training of picture-word associations (Wernicko task) with sham stimulation
Intervention: tDCS (Device)
Sham tDCS + training
Combination of intensive training of picture-word associations (Wernicko task) with sham stimulation
Intervention: training (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Performance in a verbal associative learning paradigm under anodal tDCS compared to sham tDCS.
Time Frame: Performance is assessed within 1 day immediately after training period (several learning blocks) compared to sham
Investigation whether anodal tDCS leads to improved performance accuracy in the Wernicko task compared to sham stimulation.
Secondary Outcomes
- Genotyping of learning related polymorphisms(assessed during baseline screening)
- Structural predictors(assessed during baseline testing)
- Functional connectivity predictors(assessed during baseline testing)
- Other cognitive outcomes: Attention performance(Performance is assessed within 1 day before and after tDCS + training compared to sham)
- Other cognitive outcomes: working memory(Performance is assessed within 1 day before and after tDCS + training compared to sham)
Investigators
Agnes Flöel
Prof. Dr.
Charite University, Berlin, Germany