Investigating Memory in Healthy Subjects Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether we can improve associative memory performance in healthy subjects, by applying transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during a verbal paired-associate learning task

Detailed Description
-----------------
Associative memory refers to remembering the association between two items, such as a face and a name or a word in English and the same word in another language. It is not only important for learning, but it is also one of the first aspects of memory performance that is impacted by aging and by Alzheimer's disease. For decades, neuroscientists have investigated associative learning and memory and ways to accelerate and enhance associative learning and memory. Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and painless electrical stimulation technique that has demonstrated to accelerate learning and improve memory in some studies. To investigate whether it is possible to improve associative memory using tDCS, the performance in a Verbal Paired-Associate memory task of 4 groups targeting different areas will be compared.

Official Title
-----------------
Investigating Memory in Healthy Subjects Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Conditions
-----------------
Healthy Adults

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Device: tDCS


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Age: 18-35 years Native English Speaker Exclusion Criteria: History of severe head injuries, epileptic insults, or heart disease. Severe psychiatric disorders and severe untreated medical problems. acquainted with the foreign language used in the learning task Contraindications for tDCS (pregnant women, implanted devices)

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) tDCS targeting location 1 paired with memory task (2) tDCS targeting location 2 with memory task (3) tDCS targeting location 3 paired with memory task (4) tDCS targeting location 4 paired with memory task
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: memory task with tDCS location 1<br>memory task paired with tDCS targeting C2 nerve (anode left c2; cathode right C2) | Device: tDCS<br>* tDCS<br>|
| Experimental: memory task with tDCS location 2<br>memory task paired with tDCS targeting C2 nerve (anode right c2; cathode left C2) | Device: tDCS<br>* tDCS<br>|
| Experimental: memory task with tDCS location 3<br>memory task paired with tDCS targeting C5/6 nerve | Device: tDCS<br>* tDCS<br>|
| Experimental: memory task with tDCS location 4<br>memory task paired with tDCS targeting trigeminal nerve dermatomes (left and right temple/jaw) | Device: tDCS<br>* tDCS<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Associative Memory Assessed by a Verbal Paired-Associate Test | Participants got the opportunity to learn the list of 75-word pairs across a total of eight alternating study (S) and test (T) periods. Participants came back for a final test session (all 75 words tested) 7 days later and were asked to give the English translations of Swahili words. A score was calaculated based on the percentage of words (English trnaslations) correctly recalled words. | Baseline and 1 week after the tDCS | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), memory