tRNS Combined to Cognitive Training in Children With Dyscalculia

Summary

The present study grounds on the absence of evidence-based treatment in individuals with developmental dyscalculia (DD). At this topic, the present study will explore the potential effect of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or posterior parietal cortex (PPC), cerebral areas usually disrupted in individuals with DD, in addition to a usual treatment such as cognitive training.

Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that active tRNS over DLPFC or PPC combined to cognitive training will boost math and math-related skills in children and adolescents with DD, modulating theta/beta ratio around stimulated cerebral network. On the contrary, sham tRNS (placebo) over DLPFC or PPC combined to cognitive training will not have significant effect in improving math skills. Further, both active and sham tRNS combined to cognitive training will be safe and well tolerated.

Conditions

• Developmental Dyscalculia

Interventions

DEVICE

Brainstim DLPFC

The active tRNS will be delivered to bilateral DLPFC for five consecutive days for two weeks for a total of ten days. tRNS will be delivered by a battery driven, random-noise current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left and right DLPFC, F3 and F4 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement, while participants will receive a usual treatment (cognitive training). Stimulation intensity will be set at 0.75 milliampere (mA) (100-500 Hz), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

DEVICE

Brainstim PPC

The active tRNS will be delivered to bilateral PPC for five consecutive days for two weeks for a total of ten days. tRNS will be delivered by a battery driven, random-noise current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left and right PPC, P3 and P4 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement, while participants will receive a usual treatment (cognitive training). Stimulation intensity will be set at 0.75mA (100-500 Hz), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

DEVICE

Brainstim Sham

The same electrode placement will be used as in the stimulation conditions (Brainstim DLPFC or Brainstim PPC), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness, and will be held five consecutive days for two weeks for a total of ten days.

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Training

A cognitive training (Vektor; Nemmi et al., 2016) will be adiministered concomitantly to Brainstim DLPFC, Brainstim PPC, Brainstim Sham for 20 min. The training consisted of math exercises (number line, calculations) and math-related exercises (visuo-spatial working memory, mental rotation).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

14 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-09-02

Primary Completion

2024-01-05

Completion

2024-05-05

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations