Modulating Human Cortical Plasticity With Transcranial Electrical Stimulation

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Healthy, Schizophrenia

In brief

Experience dependent plasticity is a fundamental property of the brain. It allows neural systems to adapt in response to environmental input and subserves the vital functions of learning and memory. Deficits in plasticity are also thought play a causal role in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, specifically schizophrenia (SZ). Treatments that can probe or even enhance plasticity have potential to be of great clinical and research value. Non-invasive neuromodulation via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising method for modulating neural plasticity. tDCS delivers low-intensity direct current to cortical areas, thereby facilitating or inhibiting neural activity in a polarity specific manner. Due to its low cost and safety, tDCS has been employed in a wide variety of studies, but much remains unknown regarding its mechanism of action in humans. Experiments carried out in animal and tissue models indicate that tDCS modulates synaptic plasticity mechanisms of long term potentiation and depression (LTP/D), however, these findings have never been translated to human subjects, limiting the practical utility of the research. Recently developed electroencephalographic (EEG) based measures now allow the interrogation of synaptic plasticity non-invasively in humans, making it possible to explore the effects of tDCS on human brain plasticity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03114488

Run by

University of Minnesota

People needed

41

Starts

2017-12-01

Expected to finish

2018-10-05

Last updated by the study team

2020-02-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 18-50
• No psychiatric medication prescription
• No clinically significant head injury or neurological disease
• No dependence in the past 6 month or no substance abuse in the past month
• Sufficient spoken english to understand testing procedures
• Ability to give informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• History of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) or other cortical energy exposure in the past 12 months; including
• participation in any neuromodulation studies
• History of seizures or epilepsy
• History of metallic cranial plates, screws, or implanted device
• History of craniotomy
• History of eczema on the scalp
• History of traumatic brain injury
• History of mental illness (Healthy group)
• Diagnosis of bipolar disorder
• Diagnosis of major depression
• Unable to give informed consent
• Hairstyle that is braided in cornrows or in dreadlocks

Where it is running

• Kelvin O. Lim — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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