Associative Memory in Healthy Subjects
Conditions
Keywords
Aging, Memory, Associative learning, transcranial direct current stimulation
Brief summary
The overall objective of this study is to explore whether transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can accelerate associative learning and boost associative memory in healthy subjects.
Detailed description
The overall objective of this study is to explore whether transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can accelerate associative learning and boost associative memory in healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) stimulation during a verbal paired-associate learning task to determine if tDCS may be used as a way to enhance brain plasticity during an associative memory task, and to accelerate learning and to optimize associative memory performance. We hypothesize that participants who receive tDCS stimulation will improve their associative memory performance.
Interventions
DEVICEActive tDCS
Real stimulation
DEVICESham tDCS
Sham stimulation
Sponsors
The University of Texas at Dallas
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) active tDCS (2) Sham tDCS.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Age between 55 and 75 2. Currently not using any medication contradicting with tDCS 3. Native English speaker 4. Capable of understanding and signing an informed consent
Exclusion criteria
1. Acquainted with the Swahili language or culture 2. Severe disease 3. Mental illness 4. Cardiac history 5. History of severe head injuries 6. History of epileptic insults 7. Any implanted devices such as pace maker, neurostimulator 8. Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance. | Memory performance changes will be assessed in two different visits. First assessment (baseline) on visit 1 (learning), then one-week after during visit 2 (memory) | Memory performance scores recorded in the computerized verbal paired-associate memory test during each visit will be compared between the two groups (active tDCS and sham tDCS). |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Active tDCS active HD-tDCS will be administered
Active tDCS: Real stimulation | 15 |
| Sham tDCS sham HD-tDCS will be administered
Sham tDCS: Sham stimulation | 15 |
| Total | 30 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Sham tDCS | Total | Active tDCS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 6 Participants | 14 Participants | 8 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 9 Participants | 16 Participants | 7 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 64.667 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.78 | 64.60 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.68 | 64.533 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.58 |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 1 Participants | 1 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 0 Participants | 2 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 1 Participants | 1 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 13 Participants | 26 Participants | 13 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 15 participants | 30 participants | 15 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 2 Participants | 11 Participants | 9 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 13 Participants | 19 Participants | 6 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 15 | 0 / 15 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 15 | 0 / 15 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 15 | 0 / 15 |
Outcome results
Primary
A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance.
Memory performance scores recorded in the computerized verbal paired-associate memory test during each visit will be compared between the two groups (active tDCS and sham tDCS).
Time frame: Memory performance changes will be assessed in two different visits. First assessment (baseline) on visit 1 (learning), then one-week after during visit 2 (memory)
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS | A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance. | Visit 2 - memory | 38.036 percentage of words learned/remembered | Standard Error 4.458 |
| Active tDCS | A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance. | Visit 1 - learning | 52.93 percentage of words learned/remembered | Standard Error 25.87 |
| Sham tDCS | A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance. | Visit 2 - memory | 24.65 percentage of words learned/remembered | Standard Error 3.458 |
| Sham tDCS | A Computerized Verbal Paired-associate Memory Task Will be Used to Assess Memory Performance. | Visit 1 - learning | 58.93 percentage of words learned/remembered | Standard Error 24.88 |