Investigating Accelerated Learning in Healthy Subjects

NCT03055884 | Withdrawn FDA Device

• 1 other identifier: 17-34
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: N/A
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether it is possible to accelerate learning and improve associative memory performance in healthy subjects, by (1) applying transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during a verbal paired-associate learning task and by (2) optimizing the learning method with repeated retrieval practice.

Conditions

Healthy Adults

Keywords

transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); accelerated learning; memory

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Associative Memory assessed by a Verbal Paired-Associate memory test

  Changes in performance in the Verbal Paired-Associate memory task is compared between the 4 groups (1. tDCS+verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice, 2. tDCS + verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice, 3. Sham tDCS+verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice, 4. Sham tDCS + verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice) to investigate the influence of tDCS and learning method on Associative Memory

  baseline and 1 week after the tDCS

Study Arms (4)

active tDCS with repeated retrieval practice

EXPERIMENTAL

active tDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice

Device: tDCS; Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task

active tDCS without repeated retrieval practice

EXPERIMENTAL

active tDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice

Device: tDCS; Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task

Sham tDCS with repeated retrieval practice

SHAM COMPARATOR

sham tDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice

Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task

Sham tDCS without repeated retrieval practice

SHAM COMPARATOR

shamtDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice

Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task

Interventions

tDCS DEVICE

active tDCS versus sham tDCS

active tDCS with repeated retrieval practice; active tDCS without repeated retrieval practice

Verbal paired-associate learning task BEHAVIORAL

with or without repeated retrieval practice

Sham tDCS with repeated retrieval practice; Sham tDCS without repeated retrieval practice; active tDCS with repeated retrieval practice; active tDCS without repeated retrieval practice

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age: 18-35 years
• Native English Speaker

You may not qualify if:

• History of severe head injuries,epileptic insults, or heart disease
• Severe psychiatric disorders and severe untreated medical problems.
• Acquainted with the foreign language used in the learning task
• Contraindications for tDCS (pregnant women, implanted devices)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Texas at Dallas: lead

Study Sites (1)

The University of Texas of Dallas

Richardson, Texas, 75080, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Therapeutics; Convulsive Therapy; Psychiatric Somatic Therapies; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Electroshock; Psychological Techniques

Study Officials

• Sven Vanneste

  The University of Texas at Dallas

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 14, 2017
• First Posted: February 16, 2017
• Study Start: February 13, 2017
• Primary Completion: April 22, 2020
• Study Completion: December 22, 2021
• Last Updated: January 26, 2022

Record last verified: 2021-04

Locations

US (1)