Motor Learning and tDCS in Parkinson's Disease

August 24, 2021 updated by: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Effect of Single Session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Sequential Motor Learning in Parkinson's Disease

The present study sought to examine the efficacy of single session transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex in people with Parkinson's disease on sequential motor learning performance.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease is characterised by deficits of motor control triggered by impaired basal ganglia function, such as bradykinesia and tremor. Beyond the visibly recognisable motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the ability to learn a sequence of movements is also compromised and poses a significant barrier to effective rehabilitation. In healthy individuals, transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex during motor task practice has been shown to significantly improve motor learning compared to placebo conditions. The present study sought to examine the effect of a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex in people with Parkinson's disease on sequential motor learning performance. Participants learnt two finger tapping sequences, with task difficulty indexed by sequence length, and task consolidation further examined using a dual-task paradigm. Task related cortical haemodynamic activity was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

33

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

  • Hong Kong
    • Hung Hom
      • Hong Kong, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
        • The Hong Kong Polytechnic 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

40 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Right-handed (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory; ≥50)
  • Cognitively capable (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); ≥23)
  • Mild to moderate Parkinson's disease severity (Hoehn and Yar disease stage 2-3)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of stroke
  • Comorbidity
  • Cephalic implants

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
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Anodal tDCS
Anodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over C3. Cathodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over the right supraorbital area. 20 minutes of stimulation at 2 mA with a 30-second phase-in and phase-out period.
Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Transcranial electrical stimulation device. A weak direct electrical current, up to 2 mA, is passed between two electrodes placed on the scalp. Electrodes are housed in 35 cm2 sponges saturated with 4 ml of saline solution (0.9 % NaCl) per side, per pad.

Stimulation is phased in with a 30 second ramp up period prior to the specified stimulation period and phased-out with a ramp down of the current following the specified stimulation period. For sham stimulation, the ramp-up and ramp-down periods are retained, but stimulation is switched off for during the specified stimulation period.

Other Names:
  • tDCS
Active Comparator: Cathodal tDCS
Cathodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over C3. Anodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over the right supraorbital area. 20 minutes of stimulation at 2 mA with a 30-second phase-in and phase-out period.
Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Transcranial electrical stimulation device. A weak direct electrical current, up to 2 mA, is passed between two electrodes placed on the scalp. Electrodes are housed in 35 cm2 sponges saturated with 4 ml of saline solution (0.9 % NaCl) per side, per pad.

Stimulation is phased in with a 30 second ramp up period prior to the specified stimulation period and phased-out with a ramp down of the current following the specified stimulation period. For sham stimulation, the ramp-up and ramp-down periods are retained, but stimulation is switched off for during the specified stimulation period.

Other Names:
  • tDCS
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS
Anodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over C3. Cathodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over the right supraorbital area. Stimulation was phased in for 30 seconds up to 2 mA and then switched off. Stimulation was again phased in for 30 seconds following 20 minutes of no stimulation.
Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Transcranial electrical stimulation device. A weak direct electrical current, up to 2 mA, is passed between two electrodes placed on the scalp. Electrodes are housed in 35 cm2 sponges saturated with 4 ml of saline solution (0.9 % NaCl) per side, per pad.

Stimulation is phased in with a 30 second ramp up period prior to the specified stimulation period and phased-out with a ramp down of the current following the specified stimulation period. For sham stimulation, the ramp-up and ramp-down periods are retained, but stimulation is switched off for during the specified stimulation period.

Other Names:
  • tDCS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline sequential finger tapping performance
Time Frame: Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
A skill index reflecting the accuracy and speed of which participants perform a specified finger tapping sequence.
Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
Change from baseline oxygenated haemoglobin response
Time Frame: Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
Task related changes of oxygenated haemoglobin as measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.
Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
Change from baseline shape-counting error
Time Frame: Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
The percentage of shape counting error during dual task assessments. Sequential finger tapping + visual shape counting task.
Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Magaret Mak, Dr, 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)

January 7, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 27, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

September 27, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 1, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 5, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

March 8, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 26, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 24, 2021

Last Verified

February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HSEARS20181226002

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

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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