NCT04155333

Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Soldiers' Cognitive and Functional Performance

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Non-invasive brain stimulation has been shown to alter performance in both clinical and healthy populations on cognitive tasks. While the performance alterations have generally been shown to result in enhancement, mixed results remain in the literature. Much of the mixed results within the literature have been attributed to the use of different stimulation parameters, targeting of different brain areas, and using a variety of performance measures or assessing different constructs. However, non-invasive brain stimulation is a desirable method for enhancing Soldier performance given the ease of administration and minimal side effects as compared to other forms of performance enhancement (e.g., pharmaceuticals, caffeine). The objective of the current study is to evaluate the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in enhancing Soldier cognitive skills and performance on military tasks. A double blind within-subjects design will be used with healthy, rested Soldiers who will receive non-invasive brain stimulation and perform basic cognitive and operationally relevant tasks.

Conditions

• Performance Enhancement

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial direct current stimulation	Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that stimulates the brain through the application of a low-intensity electrical current, typically ranging from 1 to 2 milliamps (mA), via electrodes placed on an individual's scalp. During the active stimulation sessions, 2 mA of stimulation will be applied for 30 minutes. During the sham stimulation session, 2 mA of stimulation will be applied over the course of 90 sec, the electrodes will remain in place for the 30 minute duration.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-12-12
• Primary completion: 2021-06-01
• Completion: 2021-09-30
• First posted: 2019-11-07
• Last updated: 2022-01-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States