Safety Study Based on Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Chile: a Case Series Study

NCT ID: NCT04245059

Last Updated: 2020-11-05

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

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

3 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-12-01

Study Completion Date

2021-12-31

Brief Summary

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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that delivers low-intensity, direct current to cortical areas facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity. It has been used to improve cognitive functions such as memory, language, and attention. Research has also shown that tDCS on motor cortex can improve motor performance.

TDCS secondary effects have been measured in several studies. The most frequent secondary effects described in literature are a mild tingling sensation, moderate fatigue, itching sensation, slight burning and mild pain sensation under the electrodes during the stimulation.

The present study is focused in evaluate the safety of a transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) service by measuring secondary effects incidence in a group of healthy subjects. In addition, manual dexterity and upper limb strength will be measure to identify improvement in motor performance after intervention.

Detailed Description

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Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a neurophysiological technique capable of modulating the excitability of the neuronal tissue of the central and peripheral nervous system through the application, for a finite time length, of an electrical field. This electric field is generated by the application of weak electrical currents through the scalp and into the brain. It has been demonstrated in recent years that the technique is safe and beneficial if used within the known bounds of intensity, density and duration.

The tES technique is classified into three types according to the waveform of the stimulation current that is applied: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS),Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) and Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). Additionally, the Sham mode can be used for controlled experiments.

TDCS is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers low-intensity, direct current to cortical areas facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity. In general, the current is injected into the brain (anodal stimulation) over a cortical region leading to excitatory effects; and collected from the brain (cathodal stimulation) leading to inhibitory effects. tDCS produces short term effects on neuronal excitability, and long lasting plastic after/effects involving synaptic modification.

Research has shown that applying anodal tDCS to the non-dominant motor cortex can improve motor performance for the non-dominant hand, presumably by means of changes in synaptic plasticity between neurons. Other studies suggest improvement on cognitive functions such as memory, language, and attention after a tDCS program.

TDCS secondary effects have been measured in several studies. The most frequent secondary effects described in literature are a mild tingling sensation, moderate fatigue, itching sensation, slight burning and mild pain sensation under the electrodes during the stimulation. A visual sensation, associated with switching on and off the stimulation, have been also described. Less frequent are the difficulties in concentrating, headache, felt nervous or overexcited and nausea after the stimulation.

The present study is focused in evaluate the safety of a TDCS pilot program by measuring secondary effects incidence in a group of healthy subjects. In addition, manual dexterity and upper limb strength will be measure to identify improvement in motor performance after intervention.

Conditions

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Healthy Subjects

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Each subject will receive transcranial electrical stimulation at primary motor cortex in both hemispheres. The pilot program will include 12 sessions with a frequency of 3 times per week during 4 weeks. Therefore, during tDCS sessions, subjects will receive stimulation for 20 minutes with a current of 2.0 milliamp using 6x4 cm electrodes. The participants will also complete a set of manual dexterity, grip and pinch tests bilaterally at baseline and post-intervention to determine if the subject responds to tDCS. Thus, each session will be monitored on safety aspects of the subjects with emphasis on skin disorders and other possible side effects of tDCS.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Multi-channel Transcranial direct current stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

A commercial tDCS device will be use in this study. The device is a wireless multi-channel transcranial direct current stimulator that incorporates an 8-channel headcap for stimulation through gel electrodes or classic sponge electrodes. The device is integrated with a user interface for the configuration and monitoring of the stimulus parameters and a fast multifocal simulation of the tDCS electric field using an advanced brain model

Interventions

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Multi-channel Transcranial direct current stimulation

A commercial tDCS device will be use in this study. The device is a wireless multi-channel transcranial direct current stimulator that incorporates an 8-channel headcap for stimulation through gel electrodes or classic sponge electrodes. The device is integrated with a user interface for the configuration and monitoring of the stimulus parameters and a fast multifocal simulation of the tDCS electric field using an advanced brain model

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy subjects
* Both gender
* Informed consent accepted
* Adults

Exclusion Criteria

* Neurological diseases
* Mental diseases
* Injuries in the scalp skin
* Inflammatory tegumentary diseases
* Migraines
* Medication or substances affecting central nervous system
* Presence of chronic diseases
* Presence of degenerative diseases
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Corporación de Rehabilitación Club de Leones Cruz del Sur

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Patricio E Barría Aburto, MSc.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Corporación de Rehabilitacion Club de Leones Cruz del Sur

Karim S Baleta Abarza, Lic.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Corporación de Rehabilitacion Club de Leones Cruz del Sur

Locations

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Corporación de Rehabilitación Club de Leones Cruz del Sur

Punta Arenas, Region of Magallanes, Chile

Site Status

Countries

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Chile

References

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Brunoni AR, Nitsche MA, Bolognini N, Bikson M, Wagner T, Merabet L, Edwards DJ, Valero-Cabre A, Rotenberg A, Pascual-Leone A, Ferrucci R, Priori A, Boggio PS, Fregni F. Clinical research with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): challenges and future directions. Brain Stimul. 2012 Jul;5(3):175-195. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2011.03.002. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22037126 (View on PubMed)

Vines BW, Cerruti C, Schlaug G. Dual-hemisphere tDCS facilitates greater improvements for healthy subjects' non-dominant hand compared to uni-hemisphere stimulation. BMC Neurosci. 2008 Oct 28;9:103. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-9-103.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18957075 (View on PubMed)

Almousa A, Alajaji R, Alaboudi M, Al-Sultan F, Bashir S. Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of Frontal, Parietal, and Cerebellar Regions in Fasting Healthy Adults. Behav Sci (Basel). 2018 Sep 10;8(9):81. doi: 10.3390/bs8090081.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30201910 (View on PubMed)

Paulus W. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES - tDCS; tRNS, tACS) methods. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2011 Oct;21(5):602-17. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2011.557292. Epub 2011 Aug 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21819181 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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CorporacionRCLCS0002

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id