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Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Voice

Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Voice

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06544122
Enrollment
16
Registered
2024-08-09
Start date
2023-03-30
Completion date
2024-04-20
Last updated
2024-08-15

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

Conditions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Voice and Resonance Disorders, Voice Disturbance

Keywords

transcranial direct current stimulation, voice, speech therapy

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to verify the effect on the voice of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in vocally healthy non-singers. The main question it aims to answer is: What is the brain area in which tDCS promotes better vocal performance in vocally healthy individuals? Each participants received anodal tDCS applied at an intensity of 2 mA for a duration of 20 minutes for tDCS stimulations in different areas with a 7-day washout period between stimulations. Vocal assessments was conducted before and after the intervention. The targeted places were the primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), Cerebellum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

Detailed description

Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques , including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been employed to enhance vocal skills. tDCS can be used to temporarily and reversibly modulate brain functions and is an increasingly popular tool for investigating the relationships between the brain and behavior . The aim of the present study is investigate the effect of tDCS applied to different areas on the voice of vocally healthy non-singers. This is a randomized crossover clinical trial, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pernambuco, number 5,758,856. Vocally healthy people from the city of Recife and its Metropolitan Region, aged between 18 and 45 years, participated in the study.Each participant underwent four tDCS stimulations in different areas with a 7-day washout period between stimulations to study their vocal assessments before and after tDCS. The targeted places were the primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), Cerebellum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). All participants were subjected to voice acessments analysis immediately before and after tDCS application in each area. Data normality will be analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, rejecting the hypothesis of normal distribution when p\<0.05. ANOVA will be applied to design repeated measures in case of normality and in the existence of asymmetric data, Friedmann's ANOVA will be used for repeated measures. For the comparison of values before and after application of the technique and between modes of execution of the technique (with and without non-invasive neuromodulation), tests will be applied for related and independent samples, respectively, with a significance level of 5%

Interventions

DEVICETranscranial direct current stimulation

Anodal tDCS will be applied at an intensity of 2mA and duration of 20 minutes. The assembly of the electrodes during the tDCS sessions will be carried out as follows: primary motor cortex, the stimulation electrode (anode) will be positioned on C5 (international EEG 10-20 system), in S1 (2cm posterior to C5), at the PFCDL (Fp3), all with the cathode positioned on the region contralateral supraorbital. For cerebellar tDCS the anode will be positioned on the inion area and the cathode on the deltoide muscle.

Sponsors

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Non-singers with healthy voice

Exclusion criteria

* Smokers * Those who present signs and symptoms of laryngeal, pharyngeal or respiratory diseases at the time of collection * Volunteers who make regular use of neuroactive drugs * Those who have metallic implants or a pacemaker * People that have any history of seizures or epilepsy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Vocal range profilethrough study completion, an average of 6 monthsMin f0 (Hz) Max f0 (Hz) Ext f0 (Hz) Ext (ST) Mín int (dB) Max int (dB) Area (%) Min f0 (Hz) Max f0 (Hz) Ext f0 (Hz) Ext (ST) Mín int (dB) Max int (dB) Area (%) Minimum f0 (Hz); Maximum f0 (Hz); Extension f0; Extension in St; Minimum intensity (dB); Maximum intensity (dB); Area (%)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Voicethrough study completion, an average of 6 monthsJitter (%); Shimmer (%); Irregularity; GNE; DAI
Laryngeal diadochokinesisthrough study completion, an average of 6 monthsChange in the task of producing vowels separately, with rapid repetition of each vowel as quickly as possible for eight seconds
Vocal effortthrough study completion, an average of 6 monthsThe Adapted Borg CR10 for Vocal Effort Ratings (BR) maintained a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means no vocal effort at all, and 10 maximum vocal effort. First, the participants have to reproduce a note played on a virtual keyboard (3 tones below their maximum glissando frequency) and sustain the note while counting from 21 to 30, immediately afterwards, the participants answered the Adapted Borg CR10 for Vocal Effort Ratings (BR).

Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026