Influence of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cortical Plasticity in Concussed Athletes

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Healthy Controls; Concussed Athletes
• Interventions: Behavioral: tDCS

• Registration Number: NCT01593956
• Lead Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Brief Summary

Concussed athlethes have discrete decreased abilities in motor learning. Recent research could further show, that cortical plasticity, as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is reduced. This is possibly due to an increased GABAergic activity, what have been found in concussed athletes by paired pulse protocols in TMS.

GABAergic acitivty can be modulated by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a polar-specific manner: anodal tDCS was able to decrease GABA, whereas cathodal tDCS increased tDCS.

Our study aimes to assess the influence of anodal tDCS on cortical plsticity in concussed athlethes. We hypothesize, that anodal tDCS is able to increase cortical plsticity in concussed athlethes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-03
• Study First Submitted: 2012-05-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-05-07
• Study First Posted: 2012-05-08
• Status Verified: 2013-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-05-22
• Last Update Posted: 2013-05-23
• Primary Completion: 2013-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

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

Inclusion Criteria

• history of at least 2 sports concussion
• age 18 - 50 years

Exclusion Criteria

• structural deficit on cerebral MRI
• Epilepsy
• neurological disorder
• intake of CNS-active drugs

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Healthy controls	tDCS	-
Concussed athletes	tDCS	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improvement of cortical plasticity after anodal tDCS in concussed athletes

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Charité - Department of neurology; 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany