Restoring Neural Oscillatory Communication in Developmental Dyslexia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a multifactorial disorder that hampers the education of about 10% of individuals across cultures and is associated to both phonological and visual deficits. The latter have been linked to a deficit in the magnocellular-dorsal (M-D) visual stream, that has a critical role in guiding the activity of ventral visual stream areas where letters identity is extracted. Here, we will test the efficacy of transcranial alternate current stimulation (tACS) of the M-D stream combined with reading trainings in adult participants with DD, assessing the neurophysiological underpinnings of these new trainings with EEG and fMRI/DTI.

Official Title
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Restoring Neural Oscillatory Communication Between Dorsal and Ventral Visual Streams in Developmental Dyslexia

Conditions
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Developmental Dyslexia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Parietal tACS combined with visuo-attentional training
* Device: Sham (placebo) tACS combined with visuo-attentional training
* Device: Sham (placebo) tACS combined with phonics training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adult patient (age between 18 and 35) Official Diagnosis of Developmental Dyslexia (DD) Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing Normal motor skills Exclusion Criteria: Participants that cannot sign the consent form Participants unable to read or understand and correctly complete the procedures foreseen by the study Participants with a diagnosis or personal history of epilepsy or patients with a positive family history of epilepsy Pregnant or breastfeeding patients Participants with major psychiatric or neurological disorders and/or currently in psychopharmacological treatments. Participants with metal implants in the brain, pacemakers, brain stimulators, cochlear implants. Participants with claustrophobia (only for fMRI)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 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: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Group DD1<br>tACS + visuo-attentional training | Device: Parietal tACS combined with visuo-attentional training<br>* Parietal tACS combined with visuo-attentional training<br>|
| Active Comparator: Group DD2<br>Sham (placebo) tACS + visuo-attentional training | Device: Sham (placebo) tACS combined with visuo-attentional training<br>* Sham (placebo) tACS combined with visuo-attentional training<br>|
| Active Comparator: Group DD3<br>Sham (placebo) tACS + phonics training | Device: Sham (placebo) tACS combined with phonics training<br>* Sham (placebo) tACS combined with phonics training<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading score | Text, word and pseudowords reading score | Pre-training, 1-7 days post-training, follow-up at 1 and 6 months |