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Neurosurgical Skill Enhancement Using Transcranial Stimulation

NCT02987816 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 22

Last updated 2017-11-14

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Recent changes in medical training environments and restrictive work-hour regulations have greatly impacted trainees, limiting the number of opportunities to gain proficiency in procedural skills. Reports suggest that medical residents lack confidence in their ability to perform certain medical procedures, and program directors often do not believe their residents can operate independently in major procedures. Simulator based task training (SBTT) has provided a safe and ethically appropriate method of skill acquisition but training opportunities remain limited. Methods to enhance motor learning during these training opportunities have not been described. Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is an emerging form of non-invasive brain stimulation that has been shown to improve motor learning. tDCS has been shown to enhance increasingly complex skill acquisition. The investigators propose to examine if tDCS can improve the acquisition and retention of neurosurgical skill. The investigators propose a double blind, sham-controlled randomized trial applying tDCS during evidence-based SBTT of medical students, to determine if brain stimulation can enhance training skill acquisition and retention. Even a modest enhancement carries the potential to transform medicosurgical skills training.

Conditions

  • Neurosurgery

Interventions

DEVICE

Sham tDCS

NeuroConn Direct-Current Stimulator. Sham tDCS: 45 second ramp up to 1milliamp, 60 second current hold at 1milliamp, 45 second ramp down to 0milliamp. Anode positioned over the left primary motor cortex, and the cathode over the contralateral supraorbital area.

DEVICE

Anodal tDCS

NeuroConn Direct-Current Stimulator. Sham tDCS: 45 second ramp up to 1milliamp, 20 minute current hold at 1milliamp, 45 second ramp down to 0milliamp. Anode positioned over the left primary motor cortex, and the cathode over the contralateral supraorbital area.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Calgary

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-11-30
Primary Completion
2017-03-31
Completion
2017-03-31

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02987816 on ClinicalTrials.gov