tACS and tRNS Studies on Brain Control of Swallowing

NCT ID: NCT04040803

Last Updated: 2020-03-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

17 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-05-03

Study Completion Date

2020-03-18

Brief Summary

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Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

Swallowing problems are life-threatening symptom among patients with brain impairments and elderly people. Until now, there are no studies investigating whether tACS and tRNS can have a beneficial effect on swallowing function in human. Our aim is to examine the effects of different strengths of tACS and tRNS to determine the best approach for brain stimulation that controls swallowing action, before using these techniques in patients with (neurological) swallowing disorders.

Participants: Healthy adults who are aged 18 years old or above with no medical complications or significant past medical history will be recruited in the study.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Dysphagia Swallowing Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

All people studied will have each of the five treatments separately over different days in random order.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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10 Hz tACS

Stimulation will be applied at 10 Hz tACS with an intensity of 1.5 mA (peak to peak), a fade in/out of 10 s and a duration of 10min.

10 Hz tACS will be performed over the pharyngeal cortex region and contralateral supraorbital region.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

20 Hz tACS

Stimulation will be applied at 20 Hz tACS with an intensity of 1.5 mA (peak to peak), a fade in/out of 10 s and a duration of 10min.

20 Hz tACS will be performed over the pharyngeal cortex region and contralateral supraorbital region.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

70Hz tACS

Stimulation will be applied at 70 Hz tACS with an intensity of 1.5 mA (peak to peak), a fade in/out of 10 s and a duration of 10min.

70 Hz tACS will be performed over the pharyngeal cortex region and contralateral supraorbital region.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

0.1-640Hz tRNS

Stimulation will be applied at 0.1-640Hz tRNS with an intensity of 1.5 mA (peak to peak), a fade in/out of 10 s and a duration of 10min.

0.1-640Hz tRNS will be performed over the pharyngeal cortex region and contralateral supraorbital region.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

Sham

Stimulation will be performed only for 10 s before the fade out, with 20 Hz tACS and an intensity of 1.5 mA (peak to peak).

Sham condition will be applied over pseudo-stimulation of pharyngeal cortex region and contralateral supraorbital region.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

Interventions

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Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) are two (CE marked medical devices) new, non-invasive (over the scalp) brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. Both tACS and tRNS deliver a weak current continuously across the brain using pads placed over the scalp, which has been shown safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults and patients. These two techniques are able to softly alter physiological function within the brain. tACS can influence the brainwaves which have been demonstrated to play important roles in movement, sensation, and thinking functions. tACS and tRNS have been investigated for several years and have been shown to be safe, well tolerated and produce beneficial results in hand movement, hearing, and working memory.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy adults who are aged 18 years old or above with no medical complications or significant past medical history

Exclusion Criteria

* a history of epilepsy
* cardiac pacemaker
* previous brain surgery
* previous swallowing problems
* risk of potential pregnancy
* metal in the head or eyes
* use of medication that acts on the central nervous system.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Manchester

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Prof Shaheen Hamdy PhD FRCP

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Shaheen Hamdy, MD,PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

GI-sciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester

Locations

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Upper G.I laboratory, Salford Royal Hospital

Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

References

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Antal A, Herrmann CS. Transcranial Alternating Current and Random Noise Stimulation: Possible Mechanisms. Neural Plast. 2016;2016:3616807. doi: 10.1155/2016/3616807. Epub 2016 May 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27242932 (View on PubMed)

Antal A, Alekseichuk I, Bikson M, Brockmoller J, Brunoni AR, Chen R, Cohen LG, Dowthwaite G, Ellrich J, Floel A, Fregni F, George MS, Hamilton R, Haueisen J, Herrmann CS, Hummel FC, Lefaucheur JP, Liebetanz D, Loo CK, McCaig CD, Miniussi C, Miranda PC, Moliadze V, Nitsche MA, Nowak R, Padberg F, Pascual-Leone A, Poppendieck W, Priori A, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Rothwell J, Rueger MA, Ruffini G, Schellhorn K, Siebner HR, Ugawa Y, Wexler A, Ziemann U, Hallett M, Paulus W. Low intensity transcranial electric stimulation: Safety, ethical, legal regulatory and application guidelines. Clin Neurophysiol. 2017 Sep;128(9):1774-1809. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28709880 (View on PubMed)

Herrmann CS, Munk MH, Engel AK. Cognitive functions of gamma-band activity: memory match and utilization. Trends Cogn Sci. 2004 Aug;8(8):347-55. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2004.06.006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15335461 (View on PubMed)

Engel AK, Fries P, Singer W. Dynamic predictions: oscillations and synchrony in top-down processing. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2001 Oct;2(10):704-16. doi: 10.1038/35094565.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11584308 (View on PubMed)

Pollok B, Boysen AC, Krause V. The effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at alpha and beta frequency on motor learning. Behav Brain Res. 2015 Oct 15;293:234-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.07.049. Epub 2015 Jul 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26225845 (View on PubMed)

Wach C, Krause V, Moliadze V, Paulus W, Schnitzler A, Pollok B. Effects of 10 Hz and 20 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on motor functions and motor cortical excitability. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Mar 15;241:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.11.038. Epub 2012 Dec 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23219965 (View on PubMed)

Jausovec N, Jausovec K. Increasing working memory capacity with theta transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Biol Psychol. 2014 Feb;96:42-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.11.006. Epub 2013 Nov 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24291565 (View on PubMed)

Riecke L, Formisano E, Herrmann CS, Sack AT. 4-Hz Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Phase Modulates Hearing. Brain Stimul. 2015 Jul-Aug;8(4):777-83. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2015.04.004. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25981160 (View on PubMed)

Clave P, Shaker R. Dysphagia: current reality and scope of the problem. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 May;12(5):259-70. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2015.49. Epub 2015 Apr 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25850008 (View on PubMed)

Jefferson S, Mistry S, Singh S, Rothwell J, Hamdy S. Characterizing the application of transcranial direct current stimulation in human pharyngeal motor cortex. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2009 Dec;297(6):G1035-40. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00294.2009. Epub 2009 Oct 8.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 19815630 (View on PubMed)

Moliadze V, Atalay D, Antal A, Paulus W. Close to threshold transcranial electrical stimulation preferentially activates inhibitory networks before switching to excitation with higher intensities. Brain Stimul. 2012 Oct;5(4):505-11. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.11.004. Epub 2012 Feb 22.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22445135 (View on PubMed)

Uhlhaas PJ, Singer W. Abnormal neural oscillations and synchrony in schizophrenia. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2010 Feb;11(2):100-13. doi: 10.1038/nrn2774.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 20087360 (View on PubMed)

Moisa M, Polania R, Grueschow M, Ruff CC. Brain Network Mechanisms Underlying Motor Enhancement by Transcranial Entrainment of Gamma Oscillations. J Neurosci. 2016 Nov 23;36(47):12053-12065. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2044-16.2016.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 27881788 (View on PubMed)

Fertonani A, Pirulli C, Miniussi C. Random noise stimulation improves neuroplasticity in perceptual learning. J Neurosci. 2011 Oct 26;31(43):15416-23. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2002-11.2011.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22031888 (View on PubMed)

Rjosk V, Kaminski E, Hoff M, Gundlach C, Villringer A, Sehm B, Ragert P. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation at Beta Frequency: Lack of Immediate Effects on Excitation and Interhemispheric Inhibition of the Human Motor Cortex. Front Hum Neurosci. 2016 Nov 3;10:560. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00560. eCollection 2016.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 27857687 (View on PubMed)

Terney D, Chaieb L, Moliadze V, Antal A, Paulus W. Increasing human brain excitability by transcranial high-frequency random noise stimulation. J Neurosci. 2008 Dec 24;28(52):14147-55. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4248-08.2008.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 19109497 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2019-5932-10164

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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