Investigating Memory Retrieval Improvement in Healthy Subjects

October 24, 2023 updated by: Sven Vanneste, The University of Texas at Dallas
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether learning can be accelerated and associative memory performance improved in healthy subjects by applying transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during a Face Name memory task.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Associative memory refers to remembering the association between two items, such as a face and a name or a word in English and the same word in another language. It is not only important for learning, but it is also one of the first aspects of memory performance that is impacted by aging and by Alzheimer׳s disease. For decades, neuroscientists have investigated associative learning and memory and ways to accelerate and enhance associative learning and memory.

Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and painless electrical stimulation technique that has demonstrated to accelerate learning and improve memory in some studies. To investigate whether learning can be accelerated and associative memory improved by using tDCS, this study will compare the performance in a Face Name Associate memory task from 3 groups. The first group will get active aodal tDCS during the study phase of the Face Name Memory task, whereas the second group will get sham tDCS during the study phase of the task and the third group will get active cathodal tDCS.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

56

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

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Richardson, Texas, United States, 75080
        • University of Texas at Dallas

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age: 18-35 years Native English Speaker

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of severe head injuries, epileptic insults, or heart disease. Severe psychiatric disorders and severe untreated medical problems. Contraindications for tDCS (pregnant women, implanted devices)

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: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: active anodal tDCS
active anodal tDCS with Face Name associate Memory task
Device: active anodal tDCS
active anodal tDCS with memory task
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS
sham tDCS with Face Name associate Memory task
Device: sham tDCS
sham tDCS with memory task
Experimental: active cathodal tDCS
active cathodal tDCS with Face Name associate Memory task
Device: active cathodal tDCS
active cathodal tDCS with memory task

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Associative Memory assessed by a Face Name Associate Memory experiment
Time Frame: Associate Memory is assessed after a 10 minutes break following the study phase
Changes in performance in the Face Name Associate memory task is compared between the 2 groups (1. Real tDCS+ Face Name Associate memory task & 2. Sham tDCS+ Face Name Associate memory task) to investigate the influence of tDCS on Associative Memory.
Associate Memory is assessed after a 10 minutes break following the study phase

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

The University of Texas at Dallas

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sven Vanneste, PhD, The University of Texas at Dallas

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)

September 27, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 6, 2023

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 5, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 12, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 12, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

October 18, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 25, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 24, 2023

Last Verified

October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 17-132

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

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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