The Influence of GVS on Mental Transformation

NCT02979314 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2016-00464
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Corroboratory behavioral evidence showed interaction effects between vestibular stimulation and egocentric transformation. The investigators here examine in healthy participants, whether there are shared brain mechanisms underlying galvanic vestibular stimulation, illusory self-motion and egocentric transformation, as well as their interaction. It is hypothesized that the GVS induced illusory self-motion dampens the ability to perform egocentric mental transformation.

Conditions

Focus of Study: Higher Cognition and the Vestibular System

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Blood Oxygen-Level Dependent (BOLD) -signal change in response to egocentric mental transformation

  The Relative BOLD-signal change in response to egocentric mental transformation during GVS versus mental transformation during sham stimulation will be measured in an functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) paradigm

  one day

Study Arms (1)

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

A standard placement of the electrodes will be used for GVS and sham, placed on the mastoids. Weak currents up to maximally 3 mA will be used (tested before in each participant individually, and expected mean current will be around 1.5 mA). Previous studies have used Magnetic Resonance (MR) compatible GVS without reporting any discomfort for the participants, however weak sensations of nausea could be possible and in case that they are disturbing for the participants the experiment will be aborted. Continuous stimulation for up to 30min with intensities of 1-1.5 mA is generally considered as safe and free of any considerable side effects.

Device: Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

Interventions

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation DEVICE

The investigators aim to study the influence of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation on the brain mechanisms underlying illusory self-motion and its influence on egocentric mental transformation. As a control condition sham stimulation will be applied by the same device within the same participants in different trials. Participants should not note the difference.

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male
• Written informed consent by the participant
• Right handed

You may not qualify if:

• possession of metallic implants, cardiac pacemakers, neuro-stimulators, metal splinter injuries
• claustrophobia
• no ability to lie still in the scanner, e.g. a cold leading to frequent sneezing and subsequent head movements
• history of neurological or psychiatric disorder
• hearing problems
• concomitant medication
• strong motion sensitivity
• vestibular deficits

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Zurich: lead

Study Officials

• Lars Michels, MD

  University Hospital Zurich, Div. of Neuroradiology

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 23, 2016
• First Posted: December 1, 2016
• Study Start: December 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: May 26, 2017
• Study Completion: May 26, 2017
• Last Updated: October 31, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-10