Healthy Adults
Conditions
Keywords
tDCS, accelerated learning, memory
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether learning can be accelerated and associative memory performance improved in healthy subjects by applying transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during a Face Name memory task.
Detailed description
Associative memory refers to remembering the association between two items, such as a face and a name or a word in English and the same word in another language. It is not only important for learning, but it is also one of the first aspects of memory performance that is impacted by aging and by Alzheimer׳s disease. For decades, neuroscientists have investigated associative learning and memory and ways to accelerate and enhance associative learning and memory. Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and painless electrical stimulation technique that has demonstrated to accelerate learning and improve memory in some studies. To investigate whether learning can be accelerated and associative memory improved by using tDCS, this study will compare the performance in a Face Name Associate memory task from 3 groups. The first group will get active aodal tDCS during the study phase of the Face Name Memory task, whereas the second group will get sham tDCS during the study phase of the task and the third group will get active cathodal tDCS.
Interventions
DEVICEactive anodal tDCS
active anodal tDCS with memory task
DEVICEsham tDCS
sham tDCS with memory task
DEVICEactive cathodal tDCS
active cathodal tDCS with memory task
Sponsors
The University of Texas at Dallas
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age: 18-35 years Native English Speaker
Exclusion criteria
* History of severe head injuries, epileptic insults, or heart disease. Severe psychiatric disorders and severe untreated medical problems. Contraindications for tDCS (pregnant women, implanted devices)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Associative Memory assessed by a Face Name Associate Memory experiment | Associate Memory is assessed after a 10 minutes break following the study phase | Changes in performance in the Face Name Associate memory task is compared between the 2 groups (1. Real tDCS+ Face Name Associate memory task & 2. Sham tDCS+ Face Name Associate memory task) to investigate the influence of tDCS on Associative Memory. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed