NCT02498574

Performance Enhancement and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 121 (actual)
• Sponsor: Bruyère Health Research Institute. · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

A promising form of enhancing brain function non-invasively involves stimulating the brain using weak magnetic or electric currents. This method is becoming increasingly popular in both clinical and commercial circles; a number of portable, at-home devices are available on the commercial market for personal use. In this study, the investigators aim to determine factors associated with the enhancement of cognitive and motor learning following transcranial direct-current stimulation in healthy young adults. Understanding how participants respond to brain stimulation is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of stimulation and determining its potential as a performance-enhancing aid for mental tasks. Future developments of this study may also inform the capacity of brain stimulation to act as non-drug alternative to treatment for cognitive decline.

Detailed description

This study involves a single session of anodal tDCS, applied over the motor cortex, while performing a task of motor dexterity. Pre and post stimulation evaluations will assess any effects of the stimulation on motor and cognitive performance.

Conditions

• Executive Function
• Motor Activity
• Brain Stimulation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation	Non-invasive brain stimulation applied to the surface of the scalp
BEHAVIORAL	Working Memory Training	Cognitively challenging game played concurrently with transcranial direct-current stimulation

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-08-01
• Primary completion: 2017-08-01
• Completion: 2018-08-01
• First posted: 2015-07-15
• Last updated: 2019-08-02

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Canada