Cognitive Change, Cognitive Decline, Healthy Aging
Conditions
Keywords
Transcranial direct current stimulation, Healthy seniors, Healthy adults
Brief summary
Recently, attention has been drawn to non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), in order to enhance cognitive functions by modifying brain plasticity and use it in different healthy and diseased populations. In the current research, investigator aim to examine the short-term effects of multiple tDCS protocols in healthy adults population on visual attention and identify the neural underpinnings of tDCS-induced behavioral aftereffects using a combined tDCS/ MRI network-based approach.
Detailed description
Investigator will investigate the shor-term effects of active tDCS as compared to a placebo stimulation on visual attention in the healthy seniors. A cross-over, randomized, placebo-controlled design will be used. Single tDCS sessions will be performed in 4 sessions over distinct brain areas with ongoing visual attention training. During the stimulation, investigator will use the visual matching task. MRI protocol consisting of T1 and resting state fMRI sequences will be acquired before and after every stimulation session in order to search for active vs. placebo tDCS-induced changes in brain activation and resting state functional connectivity and to identify neural correlates of behavioral changes.
Interventions
DEVICETranscranial direct current stimulation
2mA stimulation for 20 minutes
Sponsors
St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic
Masaryk University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* right handed, healthy volunteers in two groups - healthy adults under 40 years, healthy seniors over 50 years
Exclusion criteria
* psychiatric disorders, including major depression, major vascular lesions, and other brain pathologies detected by MRI that might present with cognitive decline * a cardio pacemaker or any MRI-incompatible metal in the body * epilepsy * any diagnosed psychiatric disorder * alcohol/drug abuse * lack of cooperation * presence of cognitive impairment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Visual-attention task accuracy | Change from baseline immediately after completion of stimulation protocol | Task will be presented on a computer and subject will respond by YES-NO buttons. Only if there are no differences in task accuracy, we will measure task reaction times (e.g. due to the roof effect). |
| Magnetic resonance imaging | Change from baseline immediately after completion of stimulation protocol | Investigator will record high resolution structural T1-weighted (MPRAGE) images, functional T2\* weighted multiband EPI sequences. The total time spent in the scanner will be approximately 40 in every session. |
Countries
Czechia
Outcome results
None listed