Safety and Acute Effects of tDCS on Musical Performance in Adolescent Musicians

September 16, 2026 updated by: Frederico Barreto Kochem, Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

Safety, Tolerability, and Acute Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Technical, Expressive, and Stage Aspects of Musical Performance in Instrumentalists and Singers Aged 12 to 16 Years: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Proof-of-Concept Study

This randomized, sham-controlled proof-of-concept study aims to investigate the safety, tolerability, and acute effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on musical performance in adolescent instrumentalists and singers aged 12 to 16 years. Twenty-four participants will be randomly assigned to active or sham tDCS. Active stimulation will consist of 2.0 mA anodal tDCS applied for 30 minutes using 5 × 7 cm electrodes positioned over FCz and Fp2. Participants will perform the same previously learned musical piece or excerpt before stimulation, immediately after stimulation, and two hours after stimulation. Musical performances will be evaluated by blinded expert raters using a standardized performance rubric. Safety and tolerability will be monitored using a structured symptom checklist and predefined stopping criteria. Self-rated performance, nervousness, confidence, blinding, and protocol feasibility will also be explored.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized parallel-group pilot study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and acute effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in adolescent musicians aged 12 to 16 years, including both instrumentalists and singers.

Twenty-four participants will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio to active or sham stimulation. Active tDCS will be delivered in a single session at 2.0 mA for 30 minutes using 5 × 7 cm electrodes, with the anode positioned over FCz and the cathode over Fp2. The sham condition will use the same electrode montage and will reproduce the initial sensations associated with stimulation without sustained current.

Participants will perform the same previously learned musical piece or excerpt at baseline, immediately after stimulation, and approximately two hours after stimulation. Performances will be audiovisually recorded, pseudonymized, randomized, and evaluated by blinded expert raters using a standardized music performance rubric. Safety and tolerability will be assessed throughout the session and during follow-up using a structured symptom checklist and predefined stopping criteria.

Participants will also provide brief 0-10 ratings of nervousness, confidence, and self-perceived musical performance. These measures are exploratory and are not intended for psychological diagnosis. The study will additionally assess the effectiveness of blinding and the feasibility of conducting a controlled tDCS protocol in adolescent musicians.

Written informed consent from a legal guardian and written assent from the adolescent will be obtained before any study procedure. Participation is voluntary and will not influence grades, artistic selection, scholarships, or continued participation in any musical program.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • Brazil
    • Rio de Janeiro
      • Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 21042-432
        • Orquestra Maré do Amanhã
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Frederico Barreto Kochem, PT, PhD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Débora Cristina Lima da Silva, PT, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ricardo Galhardoni, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Renato Santos de Almeida, PT, PhD

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

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 12 to 16 years, inclusive, at the time of enrollment.
  • Regular participation in instrumental or vocal music training for at least 12 months.
  • Ability to safely perform a previously learned musical piece or excerpt lasting approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
  • General health status compatible with participation, confirmed through a pre-session safety screening.
  • No known neurological or clinical condition considered to increase the risk associated with stimulation.
  • No current use of medication or substances considered by the study team to substantially alter cortical excitability or increase procedural risk.
  • Written informed consent from a legal guardian.
  • Written assent from the adolescent and voluntary willingness to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of epilepsy or non-febrile seizures.
  • Relevant brain injury, previous cranial surgery, or other neurological condition considered incompatible with the protocol.
  • Pacemaker, implanted electronic device, neurostimulator, or cranial metallic implant that could pose a risk or interfere with stimulation.
  • Current use of anticonvulsant medication or other medication considered by the study team to represent a contraindication or unacceptable precaution.
  • Previous experience with tDCS when such experience could compromise blinding.
  • Dermatitis, wounds, infection, burns, significant pain, or other scalp abnormalities at the planned electrode sites.
  • Known or suspected pregnancy, as a precaution; pregnancy testing will not be performed as part of the study.
  • Acute illness or relevant symptoms on the day of the session, including fever, significant headache, persistent dizziness, or relevant sleep deprivation, when these findings justify postponement or exclusion for safety reasons.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active tDCS
Participants will receive a single session of active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) at 2.0 mA for 30 minutes, using 5 × 7 cm electrodes positioned over FCz and Fp2.
Device: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Participants will receive a single session of active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Anodal stimulation will be applied over FCz with the cathodal electrode positioned over Fp2 using 5 × 7 cm electrodes. Current will be gradually increased to 2.0 mA, maintained for 30 minutes, and gradually reduced at the end of stimulation.
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS
Sham stimulation will reproduce the initial sensations of tDCS without sustained current delivery. Participants will receive a single session of sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) at 2.0 mA for 30 minutes, using 5 × 7 cm electrodes positioned over FCz and Fp2.
Device: Sham tDCS
Participants will receive a single session of sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Anodal stimulation will be applied over FCz with the cathodal electrode positioned over Fp2 using 5 × 7 cm electrodes. An initial ramp and brief period of stimulation will reproduce the initial sensations associated with tDCS, followed by automatic discontinuation of sustained current. Session will stop in 30 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Safety and Tolerability of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-stimulation); periprocedural (throughout the 30-minute stimulation session); immediately post-stimulation; 2 hours post-stimulation; and approximately 24 hours post-stimulation.
Safety and tolerability will be assessed using a structured checklist documenting the presence and intensity of tingling/itching, warmth or burning sensation, skin redness, headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue or drowsiness, visual symptoms, and other spontaneously reported symptoms. Stimulation interruptions, inability to complete the session, and adverse events requiring additional assessment or care will also be recorded. The number and proportion of participants experiencing each event and its severity will be described.
Baseline (pre-stimulation); periprocedural (throughout the 30-minute stimulation session); immediately post-stimulation; 2 hours post-stimulation; and approximately 24 hours post-stimulation.
Change in Musical Performance Scores
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 2 hours after intervention
Musical performances will be audiovisually recorded and evaluated by blinded independent expert raters using the Rubric for the Assessment of Music Performance Achievement. The rubric evaluates technical performance, interpretative quality, stylistic coherence, repertoire-related performance characteristics, and stage presence. Each domain is rated from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating better musical performance. Changes over time will be compared between the active and sham groups.
Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 2 hours after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Self-Reported Musical Performance
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 2 hours after intervention
Participants will rate their own musical performance on a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents the worst possible performance that day and 10 represents the best possible performance that day. Higher scores indicate better self-perceived performance.
Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 2 hours after intervention
Participant Perception of Intervention Allocation
Time Frame: At the end of the study session, approximately 2 hours after intervention
Participants will report whether they believe they received active stimulation, sham stimulation, or whether they do not know which condition they received. Responses will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of participant blinding.
At the end of the study session, approximately 2 hours after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

Collaborators

Neuromodulacao em Foco

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 16, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 16, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 01375026.7.0000.5235

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

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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