Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the Primary Motor Cortex in Healthy Individuals

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main aim of this study is to assess the short-term effects of active-tDCS (a-tDCS) on the M1 regarding sensorimotor variables such as discriminative sensation, pressure pain threshold and electromyographic activity compared with a sham-tDCS (s-tDCS) in healthy individuals. The main objective was to determine whether there were clinically relevant changes generated by tDCS and if they were superior to a sham intervention.

Official Title
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the Primary Motor Cortex and Its Effects on Sensitivity, Pressure Pain Threshold, and Electromyographic Activity in Healthy Individuals: A Quasi-experimental Single-blind Sham-controlled Trial

Conditions
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Basic Physiology, Brain Stimulation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Sooma transcranial direct current stimulation device
* Device: Placebo Sooma transcranial direct current stimulation device


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: asymptomatic participants men and women aged 18 to 65 years Exclusion Criteria: insomnia nausea headache pregnancy use of painkillers in the last 24 hours presence of metal inside the head pacemaker wound on the area of electrodes' application drug consumption; (j) recent application of tDCS psychiatric disease impeding understanding of the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: transcranial direct current stimulation<br> | Device: Sooma transcranial direct current stimulation device<br>* This group received brain training through transcranial direct current for 20 minutes.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation<br> | Device: Placebo Sooma transcranial direct current stimulation device<br>* This group received sham brain training through transcranial direct current for 20 minutes. The current is active for 15 seconds and then switches off until the intervention is finished.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pressure pain threshold through an algometer | Pressure pain threshold has been defined as the minimal amount of pressure at which a sense of pressure first changes to pain or discomfort | Change in pressure pain threshold immediately at the end of the intervention | 
| Tactile acuity threshold | Tactile acuity threshold is an important variable to know the somatosensory state and Von Frey monofilaments and Aesthesiometer were used | Change in tactile acuity threshold immediately at the end of the intervention | 
| Muscle recruitment through electromyographic activity | The activity of surface electromyography (sEMG) during an isometric maximal voluntary contraction was measured in the biceps brachii and rectus femoris. | Change in electromyographic activity immediately at the end of the intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Transcranial direct current stimulation