Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Effects on Early Auditory Processing in Schizophrenia

Summary

Individuals with schizophrenia have difficulties in functioning in the community. No one really knows what factors determine how well patients manage in the real world. The purpose of this pilot study is to try a new approach to improving a potential determinant of good community functioning, namely how we process sounds. Specifically, the investigators propose to examine the benefit of combining auditory training exercises with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS is a new tool that is being developed as a safe and noninvasive neurostimulation method, for improving processing of sounds. Transcranial direct current stimulation involves placing a wet sponge electrode on the head and one on the arm. Electrical current from a device powered by a 9-volt battery will flow from one electrode to the other. A small portion of the current will pass through the skull and stimulate the brain. This procedure is non-invasive and painless and it results in increase or decrease of spontaneous neuronal firing in the brain. Neurons are brain cells that send electrochemical messages to each other. Its safety and beneficial effect on mental functions has been demonstrated in healthy individuals and several clinical populations. The purpose of this study is to determine if transcranial direct current stimulation added to auditory training exercises can improve how schizophrenia patients process sound.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Active tDCS + Auditory Training

Active tDCS will be cathodal tDCS applied bilaterally over the auditory cortex for 20 min. The auditory training exercise will 20 min of computerized auditory training using the Sound Sweeps module of the Posit Science Brain HQ

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Active tDCS + Control Condition

Active tDCS will be cathodal tDCS applied bilaterally over the auditory cortex for 20 min. The control condition will be subjects watching a silent movie for 20 min during active tDCS stimulation.

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Sham tDCS + Auditory Training

Sham tDCS will be cathodal tDCS applied bilaterally over the auditory cortex for 1 min with the current then slowly ramped down to 0 amps over the course of another minute. The auditory training exercise will 20 min of computerized auditory training using the Sound Sweeps module of the Posit Science Brain HQ

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Walter Dunn · VA Medical Center-West Los Angeles

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-05-20

Primary Completion

2020-05-01

Completion

2020-05-01

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations