Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augments the Effects of Gamified, Mobile Attention Bias Modification
- Conditions
- AnxietyStress
- Interventions
- Behavioral: ABMTOther: Transcranial direct current stimulation
- Registration Number
- NCT04348812
- Lead Sponsor
- Hunter College of City University of New York
- Brief Summary
The present study tested whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across the prefrontal cortex (PFC), versus sham stimulation, effectively augments the beneficial effects of a gamified attention bias modification training (ABMT) mobile app.
- Detailed Description
Anxiety-related attentional bias (AB) is the preferential processing of threat observed in clinical and sub-clinical anxiety. Attention bias modification training (ABMT) is a computerized cognitive training technique designed to systematically direct attention away from threat and ameliorate AB, but mixed and null findings have highlighted gaps in our understanding of mechanisms underlying ABMT and how to design the most effective delivery systems. One neuromodulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may augment the effects of ABMT by strengthening top-down cognitive control processes, but the evidence base is limited and has not been generalized to current approaches in digital therapeutics, such as mobile applications. The present study tested whether tDCS across the PFC, versus sham stimulation, effectively augments the beneficial effects of a gamified ABMT mobile app. Thirty-eight adults (Mage = 23.92, SD = 4.75; 18 females) evidencing low-to-moderate anxiety symptoms were randomly assigned to active or sham tDCS for 30-minutes while receiving ABMT via a mobile app. Participants reported on potential moderators of ABMT, including life stress and trait anxiety. ECG was recorded during a subsequent stressor to generate respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) suppression as a metric of stress resilience.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 38
- mild - moderate anxiety
- psychotic disorder
- substance use disorder
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- FACTORIAL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description tDCS Active Transcranial direct current stimulation Transcranial direct current stimulation with ABMT tDCS Active ABMT Transcranial direct current stimulation with ABMT tDCS sham ABMT Transcranial direct current sham stimulation with ABMT
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Self-reported subjective state anxiety Day 1 Self report of state anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Higher scores mean greater anxiety severity/worse outcomes (scores ranging from 20-80).
Threat bias, or dsyregulated attention towards threat, measured via computer assay Day 1 Using the computerized, reaction time-based cognitive assessment task, the "dot probe", biased attention towards or away from threat-relevant information will be assessed based on reaction-time based scoring procedures. Higher scores mean greater bias/worse outcomes
Self-reported negative mood symptoms Day 1 Self report using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS); Higher scores mean more severe negative mood/worse outcomes (scores ranging from 0-42)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Magnitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia, or variability in heart rate due to respiration rate Day 1 Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), calculated using mobile electrocardiogram, will be assessed during the Trier Social Stress Task, a standardized behavioral assessment of stress. Higher scores mean greater contribution of respiratory rate to heart rate.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Hunter College of the City University of New York
🇺🇸New York, New York, United States