The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Performance in Healthy Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy

• Registration Number: NCT04577768
• Lead Sponsor: Ariel University

Brief Summary

to investigate the effect of stimulation intensity on motor performance in healthy adults.

Detailed Description

60 healthy subjects were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (a) 20-min of High-Definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) with an intensity of 2 mA (HD-tDCS 2 mA); (2) 20-min of HD-tDCS with an intensity of 1.5 mA (HD-tDCS 1.5 mA); and (3) 20-min of sham HD-tDCS (HD-tDCS sham). The stimulation was administered noninvasively using an M x N 9-channel high definition transcranial electrical current stimulator from Soterix Medical (New York, NY). The anodal stimulation targeted the right Brodmann area 4 (primary motor cortex) based on HD-Targets brain modelling software (Soterix Medical, New York, NY).

Tests: The non-dominant left arm was tested. The subjects performed a sequential point-to-point movement task on the graphics tablet. Initially, the participants were required to perform 3 sequences without errors to familiarize themselves with the setup, the task and the sequence. Then, they performed the pre-test which consisted of two blocks of 6 sequences, i.e. 12 sequences, with a 30 s break between blocks. Two min after starting the appropriate stimulation, they performed 2 blocks of 6 sequences (identical to the pre-test). After finishing the tDCS stimulation, the participants performed a post-test, which was also identical to the pre-test. The participants returned after 24 hours to perform a retention test, which was equivalent to the pre- and post-tests. Two outcome measures were used: movement time (s) and the reaction time (s) of the reaching movements.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-07-11
• Primary Completion: 2020-02-10
• Study Completion: 2020-02-10
• Status Verified: 2020-09
• Study First Submitted: 2020-09-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-10-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-10-06
• Study First Posted: 2020-10-08
• Last Update Posted: 2020-10-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

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

Inclusion Criteria

• aged between 20 and 35
• right-hand dominant
• healthy according to self report

Exclusion Criteria

• taking psychiatric medications
• a history of drug abuse or dependence
• psychiatric or neurological disorder
• a history of seizures
• metal implants in their head
• musculoskeletal deficits interfering with task performance (proper reaching performance in sitting)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in movement time (s) from baseline to retention test	Baseline (immediately before stimulation), 24 hours following the stimulation	Time from movement onset (first time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity) until the end of the movement (the last time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity). Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter movement time.
Change in reaction time (s) from baseline to intervention	Baseline (immediately before stimulation), two minutes after starting the stimulation	Time between when the target appeared in green (changed color from white to green), and movement onset. Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter reaction time.
Change in movement time (s) from intervention to posttest	Two minutes after starting the stimulation, immediately post stimulation	Time from movement onset (first time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity) until the end of the movement (the last time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity). Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter movement time.
Change in movement time (s) from intervention to retention test	Two minutes after starting the stimulation, 24 hours following the stimulation	Time from movement onset (first time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity) until the end of the movement (the last time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity). Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter movement time.
Change in movement time (s) from posttest to retention test	immediately post stimulation, 24 hours following the stimulation	Time from movement onset (first time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity) until the end of the movement (the last time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity). Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter movement time.
Change in reaction time (s) from baseline to retention test	Baseline (immediately before stimulation), 24 hours following the stimulation	Time between when the target appeared in green (changed color from white to green), and movement onset. Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter reaction time.
Change in reaction time (s) from intervention to posttest	Two minutes after starting the stimulation, immediately post stimulation	Time between when the target appeared in green (changed color from white to green), and movement onset. Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter reaction time.
Change in reaction time (s) from intervention to retention test	Two minutes after starting the stimulation, 24 hours following the stimulation	Time between when the target appeared in green (changed color from white to green), and movement onset. Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter reaction time.
Change in movement time (s) from baseline to posttest	Baseline (immediately before stimulation), immediately post stimulation	Time from movement onset (first time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity) until the end of the movement (the last time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity). Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter movement time.
Change in reaction time (s) from baseline to posttest	Baseline (immediately before stimulation), immediately post stimulation	Time between when the target appeared in green (changed color from white to green), and movement onset. Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter reaction time.
Change in reaction time (s) from posttest to retention test	immediately post stimulation, 24 hours following the stimulation	Time between when the target appeared in green (changed color from white to green), and movement onset. Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter reaction time.
Change in movement time (s) from baseline to intervention	Baseline (immediately before stimulation), two minutes after starting the stimulation	Time from movement onset (first time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity) until the end of the movement (the last time the tangential velocity was greater than 5% of the peak tangential velocity). Improved motor performance was indicated by a shorter movement time.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ariel University; 🇮🇱 Ariel, Israel