Cognitive Embodiment Activation by tDCS

NCT03094520 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: GEST
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main objective of the proposed research is to extend our understanding of how gesture and language interact, focusing on the role of cognitive embodiment in this interaction, and to explore the neural systems that support links between language and actions systems.

Conditions

Healthy Young Adults

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• response time in semantic decision task

  Comparing response time in semantic decision task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

  assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of semantic decision task (last approximately 10 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks

• performance in attentional load task

  Attentional load task: Participants are presented with a 6 positions ring that includes different shapes, they have to press V when they see a square and N when they see a diamond. They will have to ignore any shapes other than square and diamond within the ring or distractors that appear outside the ring. Comparing performance in attentional load task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

  assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of attentional load task (last approximately 6 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks

• performance in motor task

  Motor Task: Participants are presented with a red Box and they have to click a button each time they see it as fast as they can. Comparing performance in motor task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

  assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of motor task (last approximately 4 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Functional connectivity predictors

  assessed during baseline testing

• Other cognitive outcomes: change in working memory performance

  change in working memory performance from baseline after 30 min (approximately)

• Other cognitive outcomes: change in Attention performance

  change in attention performance from baseline after 30 min (approximately)

Study Arms (2)

Anodal tDCS + semantic, motor, attentional tasks

EXPERIMENTAL

Combination of gestural (subjects have to indicate if the gesture is related to the word), attentional and motor tasks with anodal stimulation

Device: tDCS

Sham tDCS + semantic, motor, attentional tasks

SHAM COMPARATOR

Combination of gestural (subjects have to indicate if the gesture is related to the word), attentional and motor tasks with sham stimulation

Device: sham-tDCS

Interventions

tDCS DEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Also known as: Neuroconn

Anodal tDCS + semantic, motor, attentional tasks

sham-tDCS DEVICE

sham stimulation

Also known as: Neuroconn

Sham tDCS + semantic, motor, attentional tasks

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Right handedness
• unobtrusive neuropsychological screening

You may not qualify if:

• History of severe alcoholism or use of drugs.
• Severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis (if not in remission) and severe untreated medical problems.
• Contraindication for MRT (claustrophobia, metallic implants, ferromagnetic metals in the body, disorders of thermoregulation, pregnant women).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Charite University, Berlin, Germany: lead

Study Sites (1)

Charité

Berlin, 10117, Germany

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Cohen-Maximov T, Avirame K, Floel A, Lavidor M. Modulation of Gestural-verbal Semantic Integration by tDCS. Brain Stimul. 2015 May-Jun;8(3):493-8. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2014.12.001. Epub 2014 Dec 11.

  PMID: 25558040 BACKGROUND

• Floel A, Ellger T, Breitenstein C, Knecht S. Language perception activates the hand motor cortex: implications for motor theories of speech perception. Eur J Neurosci. 2003 Aug;18(3):704-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02774.x.

  PMID: 12911767 BACKGROUND

• Floel A, Rosser N, Michka O, Knecht S, Breitenstein C. Noninvasive brain stimulation improves language learning. J Cogn Neurosci. 2008 Aug;20(8):1415-22. doi: 10.1162/jocn.2008.20098.

  PMID: 18303984 BACKGROUND

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

• Agnes Floeel, Prof

  Charite Universitätsmedizin

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof.Dr.med.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2017
• First Posted: March 29, 2017
• Study Start: May 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2018
• Study Completion: October 1, 2018
• Last Updated: May 11, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Locations

DE (1)