The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on appetite control related brain regions.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging tool for brain modulation in a variety of clinical conditions. In addition, recent neuroimaging studies suggest that modifying the activity of brain circuits involved in eating behavior could provide therapeutic benefits in obesity. The investigators aim to assess whether long-term modulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) using tDCS, modifies behavioral response and brain activity while watching visually presented food cues and taste cues in obese subjects. Subjects will be randomly divided into sham and real tDCS arms. Subjects will receive sham or real tDCS ten times. Subjects will be investigated before and after sham or real tDCS interventions. Subjects will perform functional MRI experiments with visual and taste food cues. Questionnaire with behavior measures, body compositions, blood tests will be performed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
27
For active tDCS, a 2 mA current will be delivered for 20 minutes with 20 second up and down ramp times. The anodal electrode will be placed on the right DLPFC (F4; 10-20 EEG system), and the cathode electrode will be placed on the left DLPFC (F4;10-20 EEG system), which is known to be related to cognitive function. The electrodes used for tDCS are saline-soaked sponges (25 cm2).
Sham tDCS will be delivered for 20 minutes. The anodal electrode will be placed on the right DLPFC (F4; 10-20 EEG system), and the cathode electrode will be placed on the left DLPFC (F4;10-20 EEG system), which is known to be related to cognitive function. The electrodes used for tDCS are saline-soaked sponges (25 cm2).
Chungbuk National University
Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong, South Korea
Regional brain activity measured by blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal of functional MRI
3T MR scanner with Echo Planar Imaging(EPI) capability(Magnetom, Siemens Medical System)
Time frame: Day 14 (After ten interventions)
Behavior outcomes on the visual analog scale
Hunger related visual analogue scale (VAS) - 8 items (Flint et al., 2000) Mood related visual analogue scale (VAS) - 16 items (Fregni et al., 2008)
Time frame: Day 14 (After ten interventions)
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