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| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02175 | Other Identifier | Cantonal Ethics Committee Bern |
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No patients populations included ==> could not be recruited in meaningful numbers to allow conclusions.
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Previous studies showed that anodal tDCS applied over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improved episodic memory performance, indicating a possible use as an intervention for patients suffering from memory impairments. At the same time, only scant evidence (provided by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)) exists regarding the underlying mechanisms, thus hindering a more targeted application.
The present study aims at establishing a connection between the stimulation-induced change in episodic memory performance on the behavioural level and neurophysiological parameters. TDCS effects and the underlying mechanisms will be compared between different study conditions, receiving either real anodal tDCS or sham stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during an episodic memory task.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real - sham anodal tDCS | Experimental | Session 1: 20 min of 1 mA anodal tDCS applied via 5x7 cm rubber electrodes over the DLPFC (current density: 0.028 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. Session 2: 30 s of 1 mA anodal tDCS applied via 5x7 cm rubber electrodes over the DLPFC (current density: 0.028 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. |
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| Sham - real anodal tDCS | Experimental | Session 1: 30 s of 1 mA anodal tDCS applied via 5x7 cm rubber electrodes over the DLPFC (current density: 0.028 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. Session 2: 20 min of 1 mA anodal tDCS applied via 5x7 cm rubber electrodes over the DLPFC (current density: 0.028 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. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| real anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) | Device | The MR-compatible neuroConn DC-Stimulator MR (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used in the study. |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Episodic memory performance - learning curve | Number of encoded words during the three consecutive immediate retrievals in the encoding phase | 0.25 hours |
| Episodic memory performance - delayed recall 1 | Number of remembered words in the delayed recall after a short delay at the day of the on-site visit | 20 min after encoding phase |
| Episodic memory performance - delayed recall 2 | Number of remembered words one day after learning | 1 day after on-site visit |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Neurotransmitter levels | Changes in neurotransmitter levels (gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic metabolites (Glx) due to tDCS (comparing pre- and post-stimulation measurements in DLPFC) | 0.5 hours |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Stefan Klöppel, Prof | University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy | Bern | 3000 | Switzerland |
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Participants will be randomly assigned to two possible sequences of stimulation conditions. Group 1 will receive real tDCS stimulation to the left dlPFC during encoding on the first day and sham stimulation on the second day, and group 2 will receive sham stimulation during encoding on the first day and real tDCS on the second day. The participants will be randomized with equal probability to each of the two groups, using block randomization..
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| sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) | Device | The MR-compatible neuroConn DC-Stimulator MR (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used in the study. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D060825 | Cognitive Dysfunction |
| D000544 | Alzheimer Disease |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003072 | Cognition Disorders |
| D019965 | Neurocognitive Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D003704 | Dementia |
| D001927 | Brain Diseases |
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D024801 | Tauopathies |
| D019636 | Neurodegenerative Diseases |
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