Dual-task Training Combined With tDCS on Cognitive-motor Performance and Brain Activity in Stroke Patients (dual-task tDCS)

February 6, 2026 updated by: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Effect of Dual-task Training Combined With tDCS on Cognitive-motor Interference and Related Brain Activity in Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate tDCS combined with cognitive-motor training on dual-task interference during dual-task walking, dual-task foot pedaling and the corresponding alterations of brain activity.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In China, the prevalence of stroke increased by 106.0% (93.7-118.8) between 1990 and 2019, highlighting the persistent and substantial burden of this condition. Post-stroke recovery, particularly the ability to achieve community ambulation, plays a critical role in improving health-related quality of life. Effective community ambulation in daily life requires the ability to dual-task-namely, to perform concurrent tasks requiring attentional resources while maintaining walking function and balance. Emerging evidence suggests that stroke survivors face greater challenges in walking function and dual-task balance compared to their age-matched, able-bodied counterparts. For instance, when tasked with recalling a shopping list while walking, stroke patients exhibit a more pronounced decline in both walking speed and cognitive performance relative to control groups. Given the necessity for stroke survivors to reintegrate into the community, it is imperative to thoroughly investigate this phenomenon of cognitive-motor interference.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
72

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
        • Recruiting
        • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • a diagnosis of stroke, stroke onset of more than 6 months,
  • aged 50 or more,
  • capable of following verbal and visual instructions,
  • having a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score ≥ 22,
  • able to walk for 10 meters with/without a mobility aid,
  • community-dwelling, unilateral stroke

Exclusion Criteria:

  • neurological disorders, gait-precluding pain or comorbidity,
  • receiving any formal rehabilitation training,
  • contraindications to exercise (e.g., unstable angina),
  • contraindications to fNIRS, MRI, and tDCS (e.g., brain skin injury, pacemaker, metal implants in the brain),
  • history of seizure or epilepsy,
  • color blindness.
  • unable to walk with/without a mobility aid while responsing stimulus by the remote control

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: active tDCS combined with dual-task group
patients receive three active tDCS and three dual motor-cognitive exercise training per week for four weeks.
Other: active tDCS with dual-task training
participants receive three 20-minute active tDCS treatment and three 60-minute COGMOTION dual-task exercise sessions per week for four consecutive weeks.
Active Comparator: sham tDCS combined with dual-task group
Patients receive three sham tDCS and three dual cognitive-motor exercise training per week for four weeks.
Other: sham tDCS with dual-task training
participants receive three 20-minute sham tDCS treatment and three 60-minute COGMOTION dual-task exercise sessions per week for four consecutive weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Dual-task gait speed
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Gait speed under dual-task condition will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task cognitive performance
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Number of correct responses will be measured during dual-task conditions
Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Dual-task gait performance 1
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Gait cadence will be measured during dual-task walking
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Oxyhemoglobin concentration changes of the brain
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Oxyhemoglobin concentration changes will be measured using functional near infra-red spectroscopy during dual-task walking
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task gait performance 2
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Gait cycle duration will be measured during dual-task walking
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task gait performance 3
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Stride length will be measured during dual-task walking
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task cognitive performance 1
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Correct reaction time under dual-task walking will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Blood oxygenation level changes of the brain
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Blood oxygenation level changes will be measured using Magnetic Resonance Imaging during dual-task foot pedaling
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task cognitive performance 2
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Number of correct responses under dual-task foot pedaling will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task stride time
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
cadence under dual-task foot pedaling will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task gait performance 4
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Step time under dual-task walking will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Single-task walking speed
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
10-meter walking test will be used to assess single-task walking speed in meters per second
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Balance 1
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test will be used to assess postural control, with total points from 0-28. Higher points indicate better performance.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Balance 2
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale will be used to assess confidence of functional balance performance, with total points from 0-100. Higher points indicate better performance.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Cognitive performance
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Stroop color word test will be used to assess executive function
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Fall incidence
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Monthly telephone interviews for recording fall incidence
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task peak angular velocity
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Peak angular (dorsi-plantar flexion) velocity under dual-task foot pedaling will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dual-task cognitive performance 3
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Correct reaction time under dual-task foot pedaling will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Cognitive performance 1
Time Frame: before the initiation of training
Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be used to assess global cognition, with total points from 0-30. Higher points indicate better performance.
before the initiation of training
Cognitive performance 2
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Trail Making Test will be used to assess executive function
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
dual-task walking performance at maximal speed
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Walking time under dual-task walking at maximal speed will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
dual-task cognitive performance at maximal speed
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Accuracy under dual-task walking at maximal speed will be recorded
Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 6, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 9, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 10, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Marco PANG_tDCS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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