Modulation of Visual-Spatial Learning in Healthy Young Adults by tDCS

Charite University, Berlin, Germany24 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this study is to investigate whether a combination of intensive training of visual-spatial abilities (LOCATO task) with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) leads to an improvement of learning and memory in healthy young adults and to examine the underlying neuronal mechanism.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy Young Adults

Interventions

tDCSDEVICE

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

trainingBEHAVIORAL

intensive training of visual-spatial abilities (in LOCATO task)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * right handednesss * unobtrusive neuropsychological screening * age: 18-35 years Exclusion Criteria: * severe internal or psychiatric disease * epilepsy * other severe neurological disease, e.g. previous major stroke, brain tumor * DMS-IV manifest dementia * contraindication for MRT (claustrophobia, metallic implants, tattoos)

Locations (1)

Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Berlin, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

performance in LOCATO task (visual-spatial learning and memory) after a combination of intensive visual-spatial training and tDCS

Investigation whether the combination of intensive visual-spatial training (LOCATO task) and tDCS leads to improvement of visual-spatial learning and memory measured by the performance in LOCATO task after end of a 3 day period of training compared to sham stimulation.

Time frame: immediately after end of a 3 day period of training in tDCS condition vs sham condition

Secondary Outcomes

long term effects

long term effetcs measured by performance in LOCATO task after end of training and after 1 month compared to control conditions

Time frame: after 1 month vs baseline

functional changes: Connectivity

Connectivity (measured by resting-state fMRT and correlation analysis) at baseline compared to end of training

Time frame: after end of 3-day cognitive training vs baseline

cortical excitability

cortical excitability measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Time frame: at baseline

Quality of Life

quality of life as measured by standardized questionaire at baseline compared to quality of life measured 1 month after intervention (training and stimulation vs. training and sham-stimualtion)

Time frame: after 1 month vs baseline

memory

memory performance tested at baseline compared to memory performance after the end of a 3-day cognitive training period and after 1 month (posttraining) in training and stimulation vs. training and sham stimulation

Time frame: immediately after end of 3-day of cognitive training, after 1 month vs. baseline

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.