Investigating Memory Retrieval Improvement in Healthy Subjects

Not Applicable

Withdrawn

• Conditions: Healthy Adults
• Interventions: Device: sham tDCS; Device: active cathodal tDCS; Device: active anodal tDCS

• Registration Number: NCT03312920
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether learning can be accelerated and associative memory performance improved in healthy subjects by applying transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during a Face Name memory task.

Detailed Description

Associative memory refers to remembering the association between two items, such as a face and a name or a word in English and the same word in another language. It is not only important for learning, but it is also one of the first aspects of memory performance that is impacted by aging and by Alzheimer׳s disease. For decades, neuroscientists have investigated associative learning and memory and ways to accelerate and enhance associative learning and memory.

Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and painless electrical stimulation technique that has demonstrated to accelerate learning and improve memory in some studies. To investigate whether learning can be accelerated and associative memory improved by using tDCS, this study will compare the performance in a Face Name Associate memory task from 3 groups. The first group will get active aodal tDCS during the study phase of the Face Name Memory task, whereas the second group will get sham tDCS during the study phase of the task and the third group will get active cathodal tDCS.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-09-27
• Study First Submitted: 2017-10-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-10-12
• Study First Posted: 2017-10-18
• Primary Completion: 2023-10-06
• Study Completion: 2024-09-05
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: WITHDRAWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 56

Inclusion Criteria

• Age: 18-35 years Native English Speaker

Exclusion Criteria

• History of severe head injuries, epileptic insults, or heart disease. Severe psychiatric disorders and severe untreated medical problems. Contraindications for tDCS (pregnant women, implanted devices)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sham tDCS	sham tDCS	sham tDCS with Face Name associate Memory task
active cathodal tDCS	active cathodal tDCS	active cathodal tDCS with Face Name associate Memory task
active anodal tDCS	active anodal tDCS	active anodal tDCS with Face Name associate Memory task

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Associative Memory assessed by a Face Name Associate Memory experiment	Associate Memory is assessed after a 10 minutes break following the study phase	Changes in performance in the Face Name Associate memory task is compared between the 2 groups (1. Real tDCS+ Face Name Associate memory task \& 2. Sham tDCS+ Face Name Associate memory task) to investigate the influence of tDCS on Associative Memory.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

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