Effect of Cross Frequency tACS on Cognitive Control

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Executive Function; Cognitive Control

Treatments: Device: Delta-beta tACS; Device: Theta-gamma tACS; Device: Sham tACS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03800030

18-0003

R01MH101547 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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

Full 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.

Enrollment: 26 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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26 participants in 6 patient groups

Theta-gamma, Delta-beta, Sham

Experimental group

Description:

Every participant will receive Theta-gamma tACS, Delta-beta tACS, and Sham tACS on separate sessions during performance of a computerized task. Sequence: Theta-gamma tACS, then Delta-beta tACS, then Sham tACS

Treatment:

Device: Theta-gamma tACS

Device: Delta-beta tACS

Device: Sham tACS

Theta-gamma, Sham, Delta-beta

Experimental group

Description:

Every participant will receive Theta-gamma tACS, Delta-beta tACS, and Sham tACS on separate sessions during performance of a computerized task. Sequence: Theta-gamma tACS, then Sham tACS, then Delta-beta tACS

Treatment:

Device: Theta-gamma tACS

Device: Delta-beta tACS

Device: Sham tACS

Delta-beta, Theta-gamma, Sham tACS

Experimental group

Description:

Every participant will receive Theta-gamma tACS, Delta-beta tACS, and Sham tACS on separate sessions during performance of a computerized task. Sequence: Delta-beta tACS, then Theta-gamma tACS, then Sham tACS

Treatment:

Device: Theta-gamma tACS

Device: Delta-beta tACS

Device: Sham tACS

Delta-beta, Sham, Theta-gamma tACS

Experimental group

Description:

Every participant will receive Theta-gamma tACS, Delta-beta tACS, and Sham tACS on separate sessions during performance of a computerized task. Sequence: Delta-beta tACS, then Sham tACS, then Theta-gamma tACS

Treatment:

Device: Theta-gamma tACS

Device: Delta-beta tACS

Device: Sham tACS

Sham, Delta-beta, Theta-gamma tACS

Experimental group

Description:

Every participant will receive Theta-gamma tACS, Delta-beta tACS, and Sham tACS on separate sessions during performance of a computerized task. Sequence: Sham tACS, then Delta-beta tACS, then Theta-gamma tACS

Treatment:

Device: Theta-gamma tACS

Device: Delta-beta tACS

Device: Sham tACS

Sham, Theta-gamma, Delta-beta tACS

Experimental group

Description:

Every participant will receive Theta-gamma tACS, Delta-beta tACS, and Sham tACS on separate sessions during performance of a computerized task. Sequence: Sham tACS, then Theta-gamma tACS, then Delta-beta tACS

Treatment:

Device: Theta-gamma tACS

Device: Delta-beta tACS

Device: Sham tACS