The hypothesis is that CES stimulation will dose dependently increase parasympathetic tone. Healthy subjects will have three 20 minute sessions of CES stimulation, at three different intensities of stimulation, with each session occurring on a separate day. Effect on parasympathetic tone will determined by measuring high frequency heart rate variability before, during and after the stimulation. The Fisher Wallace Stimulator (FW100) which delivers a low dose alternating current a varying frequencies will be used for the stimulation.
Healthy subjects will have three 20 minute sessions of bitemporal CES stimulation, at three different intensities of stimulation (sham, 1 milli Amp, 2 milli Amp), with each session occurring on a separate day. The Fisher Wallace Stimulator (FW100) which delivers a low dose alternating current a varying pulsed frequencies (5 Hertz, 500 Hertz, and 25000 Hertzz) will be used for the stimulation. ECG will be recorded continuously for 15 minutes before stimulation, during 20 minute stimulation and for 15 minutes following stimulation. Effect on parasympathetic tone will determined by measuring high frequency heart rate variability before, during and after the stimulation. Effect of CES of heart rate and low frequency heart rate variability will also be examined. Subject side effects will also be assessed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
21
low voltage alternating current transcranial electrical stimulation
Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York, United States
Change in High Frequency Heart Rate Variability
High frequency heart rate variability (HRV) will be calculated over successive 5 minute intervals from continuous ECG recordings and reported on a log scale with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 10. Higher scores represent more heart rate variability.
Time frame: Mean HRV is calculated for the 15 minutes of baseline, for the 20 minutes of stimulation and for the 15 minutes post stimulation
Number of Subjects Reporting Light Flickering in Peripheral Vision Side Effect
Subjects were asked to report any side effects of the stimulation. Of all side effects reported by subjects, only light flickering in peripheral vision was endorsed by enough subjects to allow statistical analysis
Time frame: one hour
Change in Heart Rate
Heart rate will be calculated over successive 5 minute intervals from continuous ECG recordings. Higher scores represent faster heart rate
Time frame: Mean heart rate is calculated for the 15 minutes of baseline, for the 20 minutes of stimulation and for the 15 minutes post stimulation
Change in Low Frequency Heart Rate Variability
Low frequency heart rate variability will be calculated over successive 5 minute intervals from continuous ECG recordings and reported on a log scale with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 10. Higher scores represent more heart rate variability.
Time frame: Low frequency heart rate variability is calculated for the 15 minutes of baseline, for the 20 minutes of stimulation and for the 15 minutes post stimulation
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