tDCS for Enhancing Speech Motor Learning in Healthy Subjects

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Adam Buchwald, PhD

Research Sponsored by New York University

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be between 18 and 65 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up baseline, 2 days after training

Summary

This trial will study whether electric stimulation of speech and non-speech regions can improve speech motor learning and help treat speech impairments.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for native English speakers who learned the language from birth at home and have not been exposed to certain languages with specific consonant clusters. Participants must pass a hearing test and have no history of speech, language, or hearing disorders. They should also not have any tDCS risk factors like skin damage where the device attaches, implants that react to electricity or magnets, or metal in their body.

What is being tested?

The study tests how different types of electrical brain stimulation affect learning new speech sounds. Healthy adults will practice nonwords while receiving one of six treatments: positive or negative stimulation over speech motor areas, positive or negative stimulation over frontal regions, negative stimulation over non-speech motor areas (positive already done), or sham (fake) treatment.

What are the potential side effects?

tDCS can cause mild side effects such as itching, tingling, headache during application; fatigue after sessions; nausea; and discomfort on scalp under electrode placement. Serious side effects are rare but may include seizures and mood changes.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ baseline, 2 days after training

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~baseline, 2 days after training

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline, 2 days after training for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Change in percentage of accurately produced words from baseline to retention

Secondary study objectives

Change in duration from first consonant to second consonant from baseline to retention

Trial Design

5Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: Anodal speech motor tDCS (Anode: C5; Cathode: Fp2)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention