Methods to Enhance Transcranial Direct Stimulation (tDCS)

Summary

tDCS has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression. However, tDCS is a relatively new clinical tool and more needs to be understood about its use. This study hopes to further the field of knowledge by examining how tDCS should be optimally used. Application of tDCS in clinical trials of depression is typically to the prefrontal cortex, but in this project, tDCS application will be to the motor cortex as it provides a more ready measure of excitability. Excitability will be measured using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to the motor cortex and electromyography (EMG) recordings from peripheral muscles stimulated. Using a cross-over three-arm design this study aims to investigate whether daily tDCS administered in increasing intensity across sessions leads to greater and lasting effects on brain excitability than keeping the intensity at a same dose across the days and whether the excitatory effect could be enhanced with D-cycloserine, a medication known to prolong the excitatory effects of a single session of tDCS. This in turn will inform on how to optimize tDCS for therapeutic applications, e.g treatment of depression. The study hypothesis is that 5 sessions of tDCS with a dose of D-cycloserine given on the Monday and Thursday sessions will result in more sustained effect on motor cortex excitability than 5 sessions of tDCS alone. The second hypothesis is that the gradational increases in tDCS intensity over 5 sessions will result in greater motor cortex excitability than 5 sessions of tDCS where intensity is kept constant across sessions.

Conditions

• Healthy Volunteers
• Brain Excitation

Interventions

DEVICE

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS applied to to motor cortex every weekday (5 sessions), at 2mA ,during 20 minutes.Conductive rubber electrodes (7 x 5 cm = 35 cm2) covered by sponges soaked in saline will be used, held in place by a band. The current will be gradually increased to the level of 2 mA over 30 seconds (to avoid the sensation of a flash).

DEVICE

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS applied to the motor cortex every day of the week during 20 minutes, at 1mA first session, 1.5 mA second and third sessions, and 2mA fourth and fifth sessions, during 20 minutes. Conductive rubber electrodes (7 x 5 cm = 35 cm2) covered by sponges soaked in saline will be used, held in place by a band. The current will be gradually increased over 30 seconds (to avoid the sensation of a flash).

OTHER

Transcranial direct Stimulation (tDCS) and D-cycloserine

Transcranial Direct Stimulation applied to the motor cortex every day of the week (5 sessions) at 2mA, during 20 minutes. Conductive rubber electrodes (7 x 5 cm = 35 cm2) covered by sponges soaked in saline will be used, held in place by a band. The current will be gradually increased to the level of 2 mA over 30 seconds (to avoid the sensation of a flash). D-cycloserine, administered orally (capsules), 100 mg, twice a week (Monday and Thursday), prior to the tDCS session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of New South Wales

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-01-31

Primary Completion

2010-07-31

Completion

2010-07-31

Countries

• Australia

Study Locations