Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Voice

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Status: Completed

Conditions: Voice and Resonance Disorders; Voice Disturbance; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Treatments: Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06544122

TDCS_voice

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to verify the effect on the voice of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in vocally healthy non-singers. The main question it aims to answer is: What is the brain area in which tDCS promotes better vocal performance in vocally healthy individuals? Each participants received anodal tDCS applied at an intensity of 2 mA for a duration of 20 minutes for tDCS stimulations in different areas with a 7-day washout period between stimulations. Vocal assessments was conducted before and after the intervention. The targeted places were the primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), Cerebellum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

Full description

Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques , including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been employed to enhance vocal skills. tDCS can be used to temporarily and reversibly modulate brain functions and is an increasingly popular tool for investigating the relationships between the brain and behavior . The aim of the present study is investigate the effect of tDCS applied to different areas on the voice of vocally healthy non-singers. This is a randomized crossover clinical trial, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pernambuco, number 5,758,856. Vocally healthy people from the city of Recife and its Metropolitan Region, aged between 18 and 45 years, participated in the study.Each participant underwent four tDCS stimulations in different areas with a 7-day washout period between stimulations to study their vocal assessments before and after tDCS. The targeted places were the primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), Cerebellum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). All participants were subjected to voice acessments analysis immediately before and after tDCS application in each area. Data normality will be analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, rejecting the hypothesis of normal distribution when p<0.05. ANOVA will be applied to design repeated measures in case of normality and in the existence of asymmetric data, Friedmann's ANOVA will be used for repeated measures. For the comparison of values before and after application of the technique and between modes of execution of the technique (with and without non-invasive neuromodulation), tests will be applied for related and independent samples, respectively, with a significance level of 5%

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Non-singers with healthy voice

Exclusion criteria

• Smokers
• Those who present signs and symptoms of laryngeal, pharyngeal or respiratory diseases at the time of collection
• Volunteers who make regular use of neuroactive drugs
• Those who have metallic implants or a pacemaker
• People that have any history of seizures or epilepsy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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16 participants in 4 patient groups

Effects on voice of M1 tDCS in healthy voice volunteers

Active Comparator group

Description:

The aim of this arm is to verify the effect on the voice of anodal tDCS M1 larynx target.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Effects on voice of S1 tDCS in vocally health volunteers

Active Comparator group

Description:

The aim of this arm is to verify the effect on the voice of anodal tDCS S1 larynx target.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Effects on voice of PFDLC tDCS in vocally health volunteers

Active Comparator group

Description:

The aim of this arm is to verify the effect on the voice of anodal tDCS PFDLC target.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Effects on voice of cerebellum tDCS in vocally health volunteers

Active Comparator group

Description:

The aim of this arm is to verify the effect on the voice of anodal tDCS cerebellum target.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation