Clinical trial NCT03800030: Effect of Cross Frequency tACS on Cognitive Control
Official title: A Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Cross Frequency Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Cortical Oscillations Underlying Cognition
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cognitive Control
Executive Function
Keywords: tACS
Cognitive Control
Executive Function
Lead sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First posted: 2019-01-10
Enrollment: 26
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Healthy participants will receive three waveforms of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Delta-beta, Theta-gamma, and Sham.
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Investigation of frequency specific transcranial alternating current stimulation on cognitive control signals in frontal cortex

Detailed description: Previous evidence suggests that there are specific frequency bands associated with different aspects of cognitive control. In specific delta (2-4Hz) and beta (15-30Hz) are associated with increased levels of abstraction for learned rules; and theta (5-8Hz) and gamma (30-50Hz) has been associated with increased set-size or number of learned rules. Here we aim to find causal evidence in support of these previous correlational findings by applying cross-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the specific frequency bands previously shown to be task-relevant. In a crossover design, we stimulate subjects with either delta-beta or theta-gamma tACS during performance of a hierarchical cognitive control task that manipulates the level of abstraction and set-size of rules that must be learned in order to make the correct button press.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Between the ages of 18 and 35 years
* Able to provide informed consent
* Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study Speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

* Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (currently under treatment)
* Neurological disorders and conditions, including, but not limited to:
* History of epilepsy
* Seizures (except childhood febrile seizures and electroconvulsive therapy induced seizures) Dementia
* History of stroke
* Parkinson's disease
* Multiple sclerosis
* Cerebral aneurysm
* Brain tumors
* Medical or neurological illness or treatment for a medical disorder that could interfere with study participation (e.g., unstable cardiac disease, malignancy)
* Prior brain surgery
* Any brain devices/implants, including cochlear implants and aneurysm clips
* History or current traumatic brain injury
* (For females) Pregnancy or breast feeding
* Personal or family history of mental/psychiatric disorder (e.g., anxiety, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, etc.)
* Positive urine test for the following: Marijuana (THC), Cocaine (COC), Phencyclidine (PCP), Amphetamine (AMP), Ecstasy (MDMA), Methamphetamine (Mamp), Opiates (OPI), Oxycodone (OXY), Methadone (MTD), Barbiturates (BAR), Benzodiazepines (BZO), Buprenorphine (BUP), Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA), Propoxyphene (PPX)
* Anything that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the participant at increased risk or preclude the participant's full compliance with or completion of the study

Primary outcomes:
measure: Reaction Time for Trials With High Abstraction Relative to Low Abstraction
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 3 weeks
measure: Reaction Time for Trials With High Set-size Relative to Low Set-size
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 3 weeks
measure: Delta Phase to Beta Amplitude Coupling Strength
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 3 weeks
measure: Theta Phase to Gamma Amplitude Coupling Strength
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 3 weeks
measure: Percent Correct for Trials With High Abstraction Relative to Low Abstraction
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 3 weeks
measure: Percent Correct for Trials With High Set-size Relative to Low Set-size
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 3 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chapel Hill
country: United States
facility: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
state: North Carolina
Study officials:
affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
name: Flavio Frohlich, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Riddle J, McFerren A, Frohlich F. Causal role of cross-frequency coupling in distinct components of cognitive control. Prog Neurobiol. 2021 Jul;202:102033. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102033. Epub 2021 Mar 16.