CompletedNot Applicable

Anodal tDCS Over Left PPC Enhances Visuospatial Attention and Alpha Power Among Young Adults

Turkey (Türkiye)32 participantsStarted 2021-02-01

Plain-language summary

Background: Visuospatial attention enables individuals to detect and process relevant stimuli efficiently. The posterior parietal cortex (PPC), a core hub of the dorsal attention network, exerts top-down control over visual scanning and is closely linked to alpha-band oscillations (8-13 Hz), which index attentional allocation and inhibition of distractors. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) offers a noninvasive method to alter cortical excitability transiently, but evidence for its effects on PPC-mediated attention and alpha power remains mixed. Objective: This randomized, single-blind trial examined whether anodal tDCS over the left PPC modulates visuospatial attention and resting-state alpha power in young adults, and whether EEG changes predict behavioral performance. Method: Thirty-two healthy participants (18-40 years) were randomized to anodal (2 mA, 20 min; n=15) or sham (n=17) stimulation. Cancellation Test performance and resting-state EEG were assessed pre- and post-stimulation. EEG analyses focused on artifact-free alpha power; regression models probed associations between neural and behavioral changes.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 40 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

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Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 40 years * Score of 21 or higher on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) Exclusion Criteria: * History of neurological or psychiatric illness * Uncorrected visual impairments * MoCA score of 21 or lower * Use of medications affecting cortical excitability * History of seizures or epilepsy * Presence of intracranial metal objects, implanted stimulating devices, or pacemakers

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

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Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

EEG recording and power in alpha band

Timeframe: Before and immediately after applying tDCS

Cancellation Test

Timeframe: Before and immediately after applying tDCS

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07625566

SponsorMedipol University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-07-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More tDCS trials