Fine Motor Skills, Handwriting, Parkinson's Disease, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain activity and fine motor skills in patients with Parkinson's disease compared to healthy controls.
Detailed description
The pilot study will involve a double-blind, sham controlled cross-over design where participants will receive anodal and sham tDCS stimulation in a randomized order. Differences in brain activity and fine motor skill performance between groups and after tDCS stimulation will be compared.
Interventions
DEVICEtranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Sponsors
KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosed with idiopathic PD, according to the UK Brain Bank criteria * Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage II in the 'on'-phase of the medication cycle * Right dominant PD
Exclusion criteria
* Cognitive impairment (MMSE \< 23) * Visuo-spatial deficits (measured by the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test) * Left-handedness (evaluated by the Edinburgh Handedness scale) * Depression * Pregnancy * Alcohol abuse * Aneurysm clips * Pacemaker * Neurostimulator * Implemented defibrillator * Magnetically activated implant or device * Implemented pump * Spinal cord simulator * Implemented hearing aid * Artificial or prosthetic limb * Metal parts in the body * Any external or internal metal * Artificial heart valve * Other implants * History of brain surgery * Migraine * Family history of Epilepsy * Other contra-indications for tDCS and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) * Other neurological, psychiatric or interfering upper limb problems
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in writing amplitude | post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week) | Centimeter (cm) |
| Change in writing velocity | post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week) | Centimeter per second (cm/s) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in speed on the Purdue Pegboard task | post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week) | Number of pegs placed in 30 seconds |
| Change in cortical excitability | post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week) | Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) peak to peak amplitude and latency - Measured with single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic |
| Change in Short-Latency Intracortical Inhibition (SICI) | post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week) | Measured with double-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) |
| Change in cortical silent period (cSP) | post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week) | Measured with single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed