NCT06229002

Effect of Transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation at Alpha Frequency (α-tACS) on Stressed Healthy Subjects

Biological, Neuropsychological and Electrophysiological Effect of Transcranial Alternative Current Stimulation at Alpha Frequency (α-tACS) on Stressed Healthy Subjects

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Hôpital le Vinatier · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

stress. Notably, several studies reported that stress could alter impulsivity, source monitoring, and time perception. Several mechanisms are involved in the response to a stress factor, among them the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The cortisol reactivity (it means the cortisol secretion after the exposure to a standardized stress factor) is a reliable tool to assess the function of HPA. Cortisol secretion is bidirectionally influenced by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is involved in the expression and regulation of stress as well. The asymmetry of the alpha band (AFα) is a well known electrophysiological parameter to assess the function of PFC. More precisely, AFα is arising a growing interest, as it is believed to be correlated with the cortisol reactivity. Modifying this asymmetry could influence the stress response. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) consists in delivering a sinusoidal alternating current between two electrodes placed on the scalp at a predefined frequency. Previous studious reported that tACS, if delivered at the alpha frequency, increased the alpha band in the stimulated areas

Detailed description

The study will focus on the effect of tACS at alpha frequency (α-tACS), delivered on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, on the response to a stress factor. In this study, while receiving a single α-tACS session, the participants will complete a standardized stress test combining cognitive stress (mental calculation) and physical stress (cold pressure): the Maastricht Acute Stress Test. The main objective aims at assessing the effect of a single session of tACS at alpha frequency, delivered on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, on the cortisol reactivity in healthy stressed subjects. In that study, the influence of α-tACS on other biological ; electrophysiological, neuropsychological parameters relevant for the stress response will be assessed also.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Transcranial alternative current stimulation (tACS) at alpha frequency	Single session of tACS
PROCEDURE	Sham stimulation	Single session of tACS sham stimulation

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-24
• Primary completion: 2027-02-01
• Completion: 2028-02-01
• First posted: 2024-01-29
• Last updated: 2024-03-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France