Target Engagement of the Early Auditory Processing Network by Transcranial Direct Current Stimula… (NCT02620267) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Target Engagement of the Early Auditory Processing Network by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
14 participantsStarted 2015-12-15
Plain-language summary
Individuals with schizophrenia have difficulties in functioning in the community. No one really knows what factors determine how well patients manage in the real world. The purpose of this pilot study is to try a new approach to improving a potential determinant of good community functioning, namely how we process sounds. Specifically, we propose to examine the benefit of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a new tool that is being developed as a safe and non-invasive neurostimulation method, for improving processing of sounds. Transcranial direct current stimulation involves placing a wet sponge electrode on the head and one on the arm. Electrical current from a device powered by a 9-volt battery will flow from one electrode to the other. A small portion of the current will pass through the skull and stimulate the brain. This procedure is non-invasive and painless and it results in increase or decrease of spontaneous neuronal firing in the brain. Neurons are brain cells that send electrochemical messages to each other. Its safety and beneficial effect on mental functions has been demonstrated in healthy individuals and several clinical populations.
The purpose of this study is to determine if transcranial direct current stimulation can effect how we process sounds.
Who can participate
Age range18 Years – 65 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. DSM-V diagnosis of Schizophrenia
✓. Estimated premorbid IQ \> 70 (based on WRAT reading ability)
✓. Understand spoken English sufficiently to comprehend testing procedures
✓. Clinically stable: no psychiatric inpatient hospitalization in the last three months, no significant changes in their antipsychotic medications during the previous 6 weeks, and no significant changes in their living situation in the last two months based on data from the registry and self-report
✓. Ability to provide signed informed consent and cooperate with study procedures
Exclusion criteria
✕. No metal in the cranium, intracardiac lines, cardiac pacemaker, medication pump, or increased intracranial pressure
✕. No clinically significant neurological or other medical disease as determined by medical history (e.g., seizure disorder, stroke, heart disease, degenerative disease)
✕. No history of serious head injury (e.g., loss of consciousness more than 1 hour)
What they're measuring
1
Mismatch Negativity- Auditory Oddball Paradigm
Timeframe: 20 min after each stimulation condition