Effects of Brain Stimulation During Nocturnal Sleep on Memory Consolidation in Younger, Healthy Subjects

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy Subjects
• Interventions: Device: brain stimulation; Device: SHAM

• Registration Number: NCT01832740
• Lead Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Brief Summary

The beneficial effect of nocturnal sleep on memory consolidation is well-documented in young, healthy subjects. Especially, periods rich in slow-wave sleep (SWS) have shown a memory enhancing effect on hippocampus-dependent declarative memory. Slow oscillatory activity typically occuring during SWS has been implicated in the consolidation effect. In this study we investigate if the consolidation effect can be amplified by the application of a weak transcranial oscillatory electric current within the frequency range of SWS in humans (0,7-0,8 Hz) during nocturnal SWS.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-01
• Study First Submitted: 2013-03-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-04-12
• Study First Posted: 2013-04-16
• Primary Completion: 2015-01
• Study Completion: 2015-01
• Status Verified: 2016-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-03-15
• Last Update Posted: 2016-03-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 22

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy Subjects
• unobtrusive, neuropsychological screening
• age: 18-35 years
• right handed

Exclusion Criteria

• untreated severe internal or psychiatric diseases
• epilepsy
• other severe neurological diseases eg., previous major stroke, brain tumour
• contraindications to MRI

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
0,75 Hz stimulation	brain stimulation	slow transcranial oscillating stimulation (\~0,75Hz) during periods of Slow Wave Sleep
SHAM stimulation	SHAM	SHAM stimulation during periods of Slow Wave Sleep

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Retention of declarative memories after 0.75 Hz stimulation during SWS, vs after sham stimulation during SWS	4 weeks	Retention (difference values between performance at retrieval after sleep minus performance at learning before sleep) between stimulation conditions (0.75 Hz during SWS, vs sham stimulation during SWS) in the declarative memory task.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
4. further memory systems	4 weeks	4. Performance in further memory systems (procedural), compared between 0,75 Hz and SHAM stimulation during SWS.
1. Amount of Slow wave Sleep	4 weeks	1. Amount of slow wave sleep assessed by standard polysomnographic criteria in 0,75 Hz vs SHAM stimulation during SWS.
2. sleep spindels	4 weeks	2. Spindel activity during sleep indicated via several spindel parameters like number, duration, frequency of spindles; compared between 0,75 Hz and SHAM stimulation during SWS.
3. EEG-correlates	4 weeks	3. Neuronal correlates (EEG-power in slow oscillation frequency bands induced by 0,75 Hz vs SHAM stimulation during SWS; EEG-correlates of encoding and retrieval of a declarative memory task).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Charite CCM Neurologie Berlin; 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany