Performance Enhancement and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

July 31, 2019 updated by: Bruyere Research Institute
A promising form of enhancing brain function non-invasively involves stimulating the brain using weak magnetic or electric currents. This method is becoming increasingly popular in both clinical and commercial circles; a number of portable, at-home devices are available on the commercial market for personal use. In this study, the investigators aim to determine factors associated with the enhancement of cognitive and motor learning following transcranial direct-current stimulation in healthy young adults. Understanding how participants respond to brain stimulation is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of stimulation and determining its potential as a performance-enhancing aid for mental tasks. Future developments of this study may also inform the capacity of brain stimulation to act as non-drug alternative to treatment for cognitive decline.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study involves a single session of anodal tDCS, applied over the motor cortex, while performing a task of motor dexterity. Pre and post stimulation evaluations will assess any effects of the stimulation on motor and cognitive performance.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

121

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
        • Bruyere Research Institute
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 5C8
        • Bruyère Continuing Care

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must be in good health,
  • between 18-35 years of age
  • with no prior history of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke with paralysis.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants with cardiac stimulators (pace-makers) and those with metal implants in the skull will be excluded.
  • Pregnant women will also be excluded.

Participants will be required to fill out a brief health questionnaire to ensure that they have no conditions that would prevent brain stimulation.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1
Non-invasive brain stimulation protocol expected to improve performance, with cognitively challenging game
Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Non-invasive brain stimulation applied to the surface of the scalp
Behavioral: Working Memory Training
Cognitively challenging game played concurrently with transcranial direct-current stimulation
Placebo Comparator: Group 2
Non-invasive brain stimulation protocol not expected to improve performance, with cognitively challenging game
Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Non-invasive brain stimulation applied to the surface of the scalp
Behavioral: Working Memory Training
Cognitively challenging game played concurrently with transcranial direct-current stimulation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in ratings on cognitive training survey
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
This survey aims to assess participant perceptions on brain stimulation, and includes a series of related questions, rated on a scale of 1-7.
Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
Change in cognitive performance
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
We will measure changes in cognitive performance on neuropsychological tests.
Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
Change in game performance
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
We will measure changes in performance on a cognitively-challenging game performed concurrently with the non-invasive brain stimulation.
Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
Change in motor performance
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period
We will measure changes in motor performance on the Grooved Pegboard task.
Baseline, Post-test following 20-minute stimulation period

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Bruyere Research Institute

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sheida Rabipour, PhD, University of Ottawa
  • Principal Investigator: Francois Tremblay, PT, PhD, Bruyère Continuing Care
  • Principal Investigator: Patrick SR Davidson, PhD, University of Ottawa

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

August 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 9, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 13, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

July 15, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 2, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 31, 2019

Last Verified

July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • M16-15-015

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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