Non-invasive Stimulation of Deep Brain Structures to Modulate Working Memory

Masaryk University70 enrolled

Overview

A study investigating the effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation of deep brain structures on working memory, attention, and executive functions involved in everyday activities. Currently, there is no effective treatment for impairments in these functions. The study will evaluate the effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation in both healthy older adults and individuals with mild impairment of these functions. The study combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with non-invasive brain stimulation targeting deep brain structures. Its aim is to improve understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying these cognitive functions and their impairments, as well as to explore the mechanisms of non-invasive brain stimulation for potential future therapeutic applications.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Older Adults (60 - 85 Years Old)Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Interventions

Control striatal stimulationOTHER

A high-frequency tES without low-frequency offset. It will consist of two oscillatory high-frequency currents without any frequency shifts, which induces similar skin sensations as deep-tES and will be applied just for a ramp-up/ramp-down phases at the beginning of the stimulation and afterwards will be switched off.

Non-invasive deep brain stimulation of striatum via transcranial temporal interference stimulation (60 Hz)OTHER

Striatum will be targeted by using at least two pairs of high-frequency tES with a low-frequency (60 Hz) offset, creating an interference hotspot targeting the deep brain structure (deep-tES).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 YearsMax age: 80 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * normal cognitive performance as assessed by a cognitive screening for healthy subjects * possible or probable MCI-LB or with PD-MCI, collectively called MCI-LBD, described as: presence of PD , and level II criteria for MCI (i.e. based on comprehensive neuropsychological examination), or the level II criteria for MCI , and at least two of four core DLB features including parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, attention/cognitive function fluctuation, and REM sleep behavioral disorder, or at least 1 core clinical feature and 1 indicative biomarker (probable MCI-LB). Exclusion Criteria: * Psychiatric disorders including major depression, major vascular lesions, or other brain pathologies that might present with cognitive decline.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

The neural underpinning of NIBS-induced changes quantified by task-fMRI activations

Time frame: During intervention ( approximately 10 minutes)

The neural underpinning of NIBS-induced changes quantified by network-based analytical approaches.

Time frame: During intervention ( approximately 10 minutes)

Secondary Outcomes

Working memory performance - Reaction times

Reaction times of an N-back task between the real and sham stimulation condition in a cross-over design.

Time frame: During intervention (approx 10 minutes)

Working memory parformance - Accuracy

Accuracy (measured as D-prime) of an N-back task between the real and sham stimulation condition in a cross-over design.

Time frame: During intervention ( approximately 10 minutes)

Non-invasive Stimulation of Deep Brain Structures to Modulate Working Memory

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

Central Contacts