Supporting Cognitive Control Training With tDCS

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cognitive Control

• Registration Number: NCT04108663
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen

Brief Summary

Cognitive control (CC) is an important prerequisite for goal-directed behaviour and often associated with dysfunctional prefrontal activity within the cortex. This can be ameliorated by non-invasive brain stimulation. In this randomised single-blind study we compare effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on CC in healthy subjects. The study includes 162 subjects who undergo a two-week (six sessions) training of cognitive control (adaptive paced auditory serial addition task, PASAT) supported by tDCS. Subjects are randomised to receive either concurrent anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS with an intensity of 1 mA or 2 mA of their left (F3) or right (F4) PFC, resulting in eight stimulation groups. Stimulation effects on performance changes are compared to a sham control group.Changes in Affective state are measured by the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS), possible transfer effects are assessed by the Eriksen Flanker task. Stability of effects is measured up to three months after the last intervention.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-04-15
• Primary Completion: 2018-03-26
• Study Completion: 2018-03-26
• Status Verified: 2019-09
• Study First Submitted: 2019-09-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-09-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-09-27
• Study First Posted: 2019-09-30
• Last Update Posted: 2019-09-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 173

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy subjects
• Right-handed (assessed by Edinburgh Handedness Inventory)
• No other concurrent brain stimulation during participation
• Proficient in German (min. CEFR level B)
• Ability to strictly adhere to study timeline

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosed neurological illnesses
• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders
• Achromatopsia
• Metallic implants / tattoos on or near electrode sites
• Consumption of tobacco to an equivalent of ten or more cigarettes per day
• Prior participation in experiments involving the PASAT

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive performance	2 to 14 weeks	Changes in performance in the PASAT (as assessed by number of correct trials within each PASAT session) due to the various tDCS interventions. All eight interventions will be compared to the sham group. Cognitive performance is modified by tDCS, which is applied through a multi-channel stimulator (DC-Stimulator MC, NeuroConn GmbH, Ilmenau, Germany; software version 1.3.8; two rectangular rubber electrodes (5 x 7 cm)).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Affective state	2 weeks	Changes in affective state over the course of the experiment (assessed by the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) questionnaire). Scores are calculated for negative and positive affect separately, by summing up the respective answers.
Transfer effect	3 weeks	Transfer effects in the Eriksen Flanker task (assessed through mean reaction times). Means are calculated for congruent, incongruent, and neutral trials respectively.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Tübingen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; 🇩🇪 Tübingen, Germany