Influence of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cortical Plasticity in Concussed Athletes

Influence of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cortical Plasticity in Concussed Athletes and Healthy Volunteers

Concussed athlethes have discrete decreased abilities in motor learning. Recent research could further show, that cortical plasticity, as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is reduced. This is possibly due to an increased GABAergic activity, what have been found in concussed athletes by paired pulse protocols in TMS.

GABAergic acitivty can be modulated by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a polar-specific manner: anodal tDCS was able to decrease GABA, whereas cathodal tDCS increased tDCS.

Our study aimes to assess the influence of anodal tDCS on cortical plsticity in concussed athlethes. We hypothesize, that anodal tDCS is able to increase cortical plsticity in concussed athlethes.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Healthy Controls; Concussed Athletes
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: tDCS

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany, 10117
    • Recruiting
    • Charité - Department of neurology
    • Contact: Jonathan List, MD; Phone Number: +40 30 450560223; Email: Jonathan.List@charite.de
    • Contact: Agnes Flöel, Prof.; Phone Number: +40 30 450660284; Email: agnes.floeel@charite.de
    • Principal Investigator: Jonathan List, MD
    • Principal Investigator: Agnes Flöel, Prof

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• history of at least 2 sports concussion
• age 18 - 50 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• structural deficit on cerebral MRI
• Epilepsy
• neurological disorder
• intake of CNS-active drugs

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Healthy controls	Behavioral: tDCS
Other: Concussed athletes	Behavioral: tDCS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Improvement of cortical plasticity after anodal tDCS in concussed athletes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jonathan List, MD, Charité - Department of neurology; Principal Investigator: Agnes Flöel, Prof., Charité - Department of neurology

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• De Beaumont L, Tremblay S, Poirier J, Lassonde M, Theoret H. Altered bidirectional plasticity and reduced implicit motor learning in concussed athletes. Cereb Cortex. 2012 Jan;22(1):112-21. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhr096. Epub 2011 May 13.
• Stagg CJ, Bachtiar V, Johansen-Berg H. The role of GABA in human motor learning. Curr Biol. 2011 Mar 22;21(6):480-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.069. Epub 2011 Mar 3.
• Stagg CJ, Best JG, Stephenson MC, O'Shea J, Wylezinska M, Kincses ZT, Morris PG, Matthews PM, Johansen-Berg H. Polarity-sensitive modulation of cortical neurotransmitters by transcranial stimulation. J Neurosci. 2009 Apr 22;29(16):5202-6. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4432-08.2009.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): May 8, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 23, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2013
• Last Verified: May 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: EA1/021/12