Cognitive Embodiment Activation by tDCS

Charite University, Berlin, Germany22 enrolled

Overview

The main objective of the proposed research is to extend our understanding of how gesture and language interact, focusing on the role of cognitive embodiment in this interaction, and to explore the neural systems that support links between language and actions systems.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy Young Adults

Interventions

tDCSDEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

sham-tDCSDEVICE

sham stimulation

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 30 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Right handedness * unobtrusive neuropsychological screening Exclusion Criteria: * History of severe alcoholism or use of drugs. * Severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis (if not in remission) and severe untreated medical problems. * Contraindication for MRT (claustrophobia, metallic implants, ferromagnetic metals in the body, disorders of thermoregulation, pregnant women).

Locations (1)

Charité

Berlin, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

response time in semantic decision task

Comparing response time in semantic decision task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

Time frame: assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of semantic decision task (last approximately 10 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks

performance in attentional load task

Attentional load task: Participants are presented with a 6 positions ring that includes different shapes, they have to press V when they see a square and N when they see a diamond. They will have to ignore any shapes other than square and diamond within the ring or distractors that appear outside the ring. Comparing performance in attentional load task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

Time frame: assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of attentional load task (last approximately 6 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks

performance in motor task

Motor Task: Participants are presented with a red Box and they have to click a button each time they see it as fast as they can. Comparing performance in motor task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

Time frame: assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of motor task (last approximately 4 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Functional connectivity predictors

Connectivity as measured by resting-state fMRI during baseline as predictors for performance and tDCS responsiveness

Time frame: assessed during baseline testing

Other cognitive outcomes: change in working memory performance

Digit span backward performance assessed before (baseline) and after stimulation to test for tDCS effects on working memory

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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