Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Improve Gesture Control

Summary

The majority of schizophrenia patients is impaired in hand gesture performance, which contributes to poor functional outcome and poor communication skills. The left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the left inferior parietal lobe (IPL) are key nodes of the gesture network, which is less active in patients with schizophrenia. Here, the investigators test single 10 min sessions of tDCS known to either enhance or inhibit local brain activity for app. 1 hour. The investigators aim to determine, which protocol may improve gesture performance in patients and healthy controls. This is a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled single-center trial in 20 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 20 healthy controls. Gesture performance will be tested immediately after each tDCS session, which are separated by 24 hours. Results of this study will inform larger interventional trials comparing 2 tDCS protocols with repeated administration.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

Interventions

DEVICE

left IFG anodal

Single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over left IFG anodal stimulation 2 mA Stimulation of 10 min, anodal electrode over left IFG, cathodal electrode over right IFG, 30 sec ramp to start and 30 sec ramp to stop

DEVICE

left IFG cathodal

Single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over left IFG cathodal stimulation 2 mA Stimulation of 10 min, cathodal electrode over left IFG, anodal electrode over right IFG, 30 sec ramp to start and 30 sec ramp to stop

DEVICE

left IPL anodal

Single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over left IPL anodal stimulation 2 mA Stimulation of 10 min, anodal electrode over left IPL, cathodal electrode over right IPL, 30 sec ramp to start and 30 sec ramp to stop

DEVICE

left IPL cathodal

Single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over left IPL cathodal stimulation 2 mA Stimulation of 10 min, anodal electrode over left IFG, cathodal electrode over right IFG, 30 sec ramp to start and 30 sec ramp to stop

DEVICE

Placebo

Single session of placebo tDCS over left IFG 10 min duration, 30 sec ramp during start and end

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Bern

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sebastian Walther, MD · University of Bern, University Hospital of Psychiatry

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-01-29

Primary Completion

2023-09-25

Completion

2024-03-22

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations