TDCS-potentiated Generalization of Cognitive Training in the Rehabilitation of Long COVID Symptoms

TDCS-potentiated Generalization of Cognitive Training in the Rehabilitation of Long COVID Symptoms

The overarching goals of this study are to employ cognitive testing to understand how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), when used concurrently with cognitive training tasks, can affect cognitive impairment symptoms in individuals with long COVID, or post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), and to examine variability in response between active and sham tDCS treatment groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to provide consent and comply with study procedures
• Age 18 to 60 years old
• Estimated IQ within the specified range (70 <= IQ E <= 115)
• Current post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) as defined by the National Center for Health Statistics post-COVID-19 conditions survey ((Long COVID 2022), including impaired cognition symptoms, for at least 3 months post-infection
• Ability to participate in four weekly 40' training sessions over four weeks and participate in two assessments
• English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any medical condition or treatment with neurological sequelae (e.g. stroke, tumor, loss of consciousness >30 min, concussion involving hospital admission, HIV)
• Contraindications for tDCS (e.g. history of seizures)
• Five or more sessions of neuromodulation (such as tDCS) or cognitive training in the past 6 months