The impact of non-invasive brain stimulation on motor cortex excitability and cognition in chronic lower back pain

In individuals with chronic lower back pain, does anodal transcranial direct current stimulation, compared to sham transcranial direct current stimulation, impact on motor cortex excitability and cognition?

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12615000110583

Enrollment

Registered

2015-02-06

Start date

2015-03-09

Completion date

2018-12-01

Last updated

2021-04-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This project will examine motor cortex excitability and cognition in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP). This project will investigate transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving motor cortex excitability and cognition in CLBP. Participant’s motor cortex excitability and cognition will be measured before, and after 4-weeks of tDCS. It is predicted CLBP participants will demonstrate abnormal motor cortex excitability and impaired cognitive function, compared with age and gender-matched controls. It is also predicted that tDCS will restore normal motor cortex excitability and improve cognitive functioning in people with CLBP. The findings will provide a better understanding of the relationship between CLBP and the brain and the therapeutic potential of tDCS for CLBP.

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation 20 minutes, 2x week, for 4 weeks Anodal-tDCS sessions will be delivered by a constant current stimulator (Empi) and involve 20 minutes of constant current 2mA stimulation (equivalent to 0.08 Ma/CM2) over their left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, the anode electrode will be placed over F3 according to the 10-20 international system for EEG electrode placement. The intervention will be administered by PhD (psychology) student Emily Corti, under the supervision of Dr Andrea Loftus. Miss Corti has been trained in the administration and safety procedures regarding the use of tDCS. Dr Loftus has an extensive background in the use of tDCS and is the director of the Curtin University Neuroscience Laboratory.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Primary purpose

Treatment

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1) Diagnosis of CLBP by a physician and/or physiotherapist 2) Been diagnosed with CLBP for at least 6 months

Exclusion criteria

1) A Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-30 score below 18 2) TMS and tDCS exclusion conditions

Outcome results