Altering Multitasking Behavior Using Low Current Brain Stimulation

April 7, 2025 updated by: Nathan Ward, Tufts University
This study is designed to investigate multitasking deficits, with a particular interest in reducing costs related to dual-tasking (dividing attention between tasks) and task-switching (switching between tasks) using noninvasive brain stimulation.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

300

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
    • Massachusetts
      • Medford, Massachusetts, United States, 02155
        • Tufts University

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 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must be able to participate in non invasive brain stimulation research
  • Must be a fluent English speaker
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must be right-handed
  • Must have normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any history of complications with non invasive brain stimulation research
  • Any metallic implants in head
  • Any implanted internal or external electrical stimulation device
  • Any adverse reaction to tDCS or other forms of low current brain stimulation
  • Any history of seizure
  • Any history of head injury
  • Any illness that caused brain injury
  • Any other brain-related condition
  • Any diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disorder
  • A sensitive scalp

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: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active Stimulation
Active stimulation of targeted brain regions involved in task-switching and dual-tasking.
Other: Stimulation via noninvasive brain stimulation systems
Active (at or below 2mA) stimulation targeting brain regions engaged in task-switching and dual-tasking for 30-40 minutes. Local IRB has determined the Soterix, Neuroelectrics, & Halo devices to be non-significant risk (NSR) devices via abbreviated investigational device exemption (IDE) procedure.
Sham Comparator: Sham Stimulation
Sham stimulation of targeted brain regions involved in task-switching and dual-tasking.
Other: Stimulation via noninvasive brain stimulation systems
Active (at or below 2mA) stimulation targeting brain regions engaged in task-switching and dual-tasking for 30-40 minutes. Local IRB has determined the Soterix, Neuroelectrics, & Halo devices to be non-significant risk (NSR) devices via abbreviated investigational device exemption (IDE) procedure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Response accuracy
Time Frame: 4 hours
Measuring accuracy (correct vs. incorrect answers) of responses to stimuli while dividing attention and switching between tasks
4 hours
Response latency
Time Frame: 4 hours
Measuring the amount of time (seconds) from when stimulus is presented to when participant answers prompt
4 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Tufts University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Nathan Ward, PhD, Tufts 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)

December 27, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 7, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

April 7, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 7, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 12, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

March 13, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 9, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1611020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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