Investigation of how a single session of an attentional filter exercise of distractor inhibition combined with tDCS modulates cognitive functions like working memory, decision making and attentional control.
The study is designed as a between subject design with two groups defined by real or sham tDCS. The distractor inhibition exercise is conducted under either sham or real tDCS. Cognitive performance is assessed pre and post tDCS application, complemented by a short-termed follow-up on a consecutive day. Interindividual working memory capacity at baseline is taken into consideration.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
100
sham or real tDCS for 10 minutes of 1.5 milliampere (mA) tDCS targeting the prefrontal and the posterior parietal cortex
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
RECRUITINGPerformance change in computerized attentional filter exercise
attentional filtering performance (in % correct), effects of distractor interference for different set sizes
Time frame: 45 minutes on 1st day (pre) and on consecutive day (post)
Reaction change in computerized attentional filter exercise
reaction times (in milliseconds), effects of distractor interference for different set sizes
Time frame: 45 minutes on 1st day (pre) and on consecutive day (post)
Performance change in working memory and filtering performance
Working memory and filtering performance (in % correct), effects of distractor interference for different set sizes
Time frame: 30 minutes per pre-assessment, post assessment directly after intervention and short-termed follow-up on the consecutive day
Reaction change in working memory and filtering performance
reaction times (in milliseconds), effects of distractor interference for different set sizes
Time frame: 30 minutes per pre-assessment, post assessment directly after intervention and short-termed follow-up on the consecutive day
Spatial Span
computerized spatial span forward and backward
Time frame: 10 minutes per pre-assessment and short-termed follow-up on the consecutive day
Iowa Gambling Task
Decision making performance
Time frame: 7 minutes per pre-assessment, post assessment directly after intervention and short-termed follow-up on the consecutive day
Trait-Anxiety
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Assessment of trait anxiety via State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory on first day
Time frame: 2 minutes on first day
State-Anxiety
Daily assessment of state anxiety via State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory at the beginning of each testing day
Time frame: 2 minutes on first and consecutive day
Assessment of Sleep Quality
daily questionnaire assessing subjective rating of sleep of the previous night on 5- to 7-point Likert format and open questions (subjective quality of sleep, current fatigue, duration of sleep); no total score
Time frame: 10 minutes on first and consecutive day
Daily Performance Questionnaires
self developed questionnaire assessing subjective performance in tested paradigms (5-point Likert format); no total or sub score; Question 1: How difficult would you rate the task? (lowest (1) = very difficult; highest (5) = very easy) Question 2: Do you think your performance changed in the course of the task? (lowest (1) = strongly worsened; highest (5) = strongly improved)
Time frame: 5 minutes on first and consecutive day
Daily Strategy Questionnaires
reporting of used strategies in tested paradigms (open questions; subjects reported in written notes); self developed questionnaire for qualitative analyses of task demands; no scores; Question: Did you use a strategy? If so, please explain shortly.
Time frame: 5 minutes on first and consecutive day