tDCS for Cognitive Enhancement in Healthy Subjects
(Normal_tDCS Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of Manitoba

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?Healthy volunteers will be recruited. All subjects will be tested a battery of neuropsychological tests, then undergo fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During the PET and MRI, they will be stimulated with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for 15 minutes. A third of subjects will receive real tDCS on the left prefrontal cortex, a third on the right prefrontal cortex, and the other third will receive sham tDCS.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy volunteers without any history of neurological or psychiatric diseases, abnormal MRI results, metal implants, pacemakers, severe hypertension, cardiovascular disease or family history of epilepsy. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are also excluded.

Exclusion Criteria

You have very high blood pressure.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women (female subjects of child bearing potential will be screened for pregnancy before MRI imaging)

You have an unusual MRI result.

+4 more

Participant Groups

The study tests the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain function. Participants will undergo neuropsychological tests and brain imaging while receiving either real tDCS to left or right prefrontal cortex or sham (fake) tDCS.

3Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: Real Left DLPFC tDCSActive Control1 Intervention

Real tDCS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Group II: Real Right DLPFC tDCSActive Control1 Intervention

Real tDCS on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Group III: Sham tDCSPlacebo Group1 Intervention

30sec ramp-up and 30sec ramp-down