tES Effects on Associative Memory Performance
Effects of Transcranial Electric Stimulation on Associative Memory Formation in Healthy Elderly Participants as Well as in Individuals With Memory Impairment
1 other identifier
interventional
28
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Previous studies showed that transcranial electric stimulation (tES) applied over the prefrontal cortex improves cognitive performance in healthy elderly adults as well as in patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, tES methods might be a useful intervention tool for patients suffering from memory impairment in early terms of the disease. The present study aims at establishing a connection between the stimulation-induced changes on associative memory performance and its underlying neurophysiological parameters. tES effects and their underlying mechanisms will be compared between healthy elderly controls and clinical study populations receiving either real or sham tES over the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex during an associative memory task.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable healthy
Started Apr 2018
Typical duration for not_applicable healthy
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
November 14, 2017
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
November 22, 2017
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
April 9, 2018
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
September 30, 2018
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
February 24, 2020
CompletedMarch 13, 2020
March 1, 2020
6 months
November 14, 2017
March 12, 2020
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
Performance on immediate cued recall task
Number of correct responses on retrieval task of previously learned associative memory items
20 min
Performance on delayed cued recall task
Number of correct responses on retrieval task of previously learned associative memory items
24 hours
Secondary Outcomes (2)
task-dependent BOLD activity
20 min
resting-state BOLD activity
10 min
Other Outcomes (2)
Performance on cued recall task
follow-up after 24 hours
Performance on recognition task
follow-up after 24 hours
Study Arms (3)
Real tDCS
EXPERIMENTAL20 min of 2 mA real anodal transcranial direct current stimulation applied via 5x7 cm rubber electrode over the VLPFC (current density: 0.057 mA/cm2) and cathodal 10x10 rubber electrode over supraorbital region (current density: 0.02 mA/cm2). Additional ramp-up and ramp-down phase of 15 s at the beginning and the end of stimulation.
Real tACS
EXPERIMENTAL20 min of 2 mA real transcranial alternating current stimulation in theta frequency applied via 5x7 cm and 10x10 cm rubber electrodes over the VLPFC (current density: 0.057 mA/cm2) and supraorbital region (current density: 0.02 mA/cm2). Additional ramp-up and ramp-down phase of 15 s at the beginning and the end of stimulation.
Sham tES
SHAM COMPARATOR30 s of 2 mA sham transcranial electric current stimulation applied via 5x7 cm and 10x10 cm rubber electrodes over the VLPFC (current density: 0.057 mA/cm2) and supraorbital region (current density: 0.02 mA/cm2). Additional ramp-up and ramp-down phase at beginning and end of stimulation lasting for 15 s. Electrodes remain attached to the participant's head for the duration of the encoding phase of the memory task.
Interventions
The MR-compatible neuroConn DC-Stimulator MR (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used.
The MR-compatible neuroConn DC-Stimulator MR (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used.
The MR-compatible neuroConn DC-Stimulator MR (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Written informed consent
- Non-smokers
- Right-handedness
- Native German speakers or comparable level of fluency
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
You may not qualify if:
- Neurological or psychiatric condition (other than diagnosed cognitive impairment)
- Past head injuries
- Magnetizable implants
- History of seizures
- Current or life-time alcohol or drug abuse
- Skin diseases
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Bern, 3000, Switzerland
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Stefan Klöppel, Prof.Dr.med
University of Bern
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
- Purpose
- BASIC SCIENCE
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
November 14, 2017
First Posted
November 22, 2017
Study Start
April 9, 2018
Primary Completion
September 30, 2018
Study Completion
February 24, 2020
Last Updated
March 13, 2020
Record last verified: 2020-03
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share