MedTrace Logo

The Role of Beta Oscillation in Mental Time Travel

NCT04582994 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2023-09-29

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The project aims to study the neural basis of Mental Time Travel (MTT), i.e. the ability to travel back and forth in time. It has been proposed that the self-projection in time is similar to the self-projection in space, emphasizing the role of spatial navigation in MTT. Indeed, the posterior parietal cortex, a key region for visual imagery in space-related tasks, and the temporo-parietal junction, a key region for mental projection, are both recruited by self-projection in time and space. However, the specific neural computation of the two processes remains unclear. One way to address this is by investigating the brain oscillations that may modulate MTT. One plausible candidate for MTT processing are beta oscillations because of their role in the production and perception of short temporal intervals, as opposed to alpha oscillations which correlate with illusory changes in self location in space. Thus, the present project investigates the hypothesis that MTT may rely on posterior parietal cortex's beta oscillations to self-project in time. Moreover, cause previous studies showed a different performance in time processing between young and elderly health population, we want to investigate also if there is a difference between these two populations in the capacity to travel mentally in time.

Conditions

  • Healthy Population

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Beta tACS

participants perform the Mental Time Travel task (duration 20 minutes), while tACS stimulation is delivered at Beta frequencies (22 Hz)

BEHAVIORAL

Alfa tACS

participants perform the Mental Time Travel task (duration 20 minutes), while tACS stimulation is delivered at Alfa frequencies (10 Hz)

BEHAVIORAL

Sham

participants perform the Mental Time Travel task (duration 20 minutes), while Sham tACS stimulation is delivered

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Goldsmiths, University of London

    collaborator OTHER

  • Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
33 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2019-02-01
Primary Completion
2021-01-31
Completion
2021-03-26

Countries

  • Italy

Study Locations

More Related Trials

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 NCT04582994 on ClinicalTrials.gov