Effects of Alpha tACS (PACS)

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: NeuroConn Plus Stimulator tACS; Other: NeuroConn Plus Stimulator Sham

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03135639

13-3918

Details and patient eligibility

About

**Follow-up Control Study for Creativity Study

Purpose: To investigate the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a form of noninvasive brain stimulation, in healthy subjects. This experiment is a follow-up to previous tACS studies that used a creativity assessment.

Participants: 35 males and females, at least 18 years of age, without history of major psychiatric/neurological disease or associated medication use, or prior brain surgery/implants.

Procedures (methods): This is a cross-over study design. Participants will undergo a control condition of stimulation (sham or individual alpha, 8-12 Hz, tACS) during electroencephalogram recordings. In addition, pupil diameter, heart rate, and respiration will be measured continuously. This is to study the physiological effects of stimulation.

Full description

Participants will report for a study visit. They will review and sign a consent form.

They will first be fitted with two 5x7cm electrodes placed over occipital and parietal cortex (Cz and Oz). They will also be fitted with ECG electrodes as well as a respiration belt. In addition, they will have a 128-channel EEG net placed on their head and pupillometry glasses. Once the participant is fitted with this equipment, they will complete a 2-minute resting state EEG with their eyes closed to determine their individual alpha frequency. Following the individual alpha frequency determination, the participant will fill out an alertness questionnaire, followed by 3 EEG recordings:

1. 5 minute before stimulation recording
2. 20 minute recording during stimulation; either at their individual alpha frequency (between 8 and 12 Hz) or sham stimulation.
3. 5 minute after stimulation recording

Following these three recordings, the participant will have a 20 minute break in which they will read neutral reading material or converse with the study staff, as well as provide a saliva sample to test for brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF).

After the 20 minute break, the participant will complete the alertness questionnaire, and the three recordings will be completed again. The participant will then be allowed to clean up, be paid, and leave.

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Clarification for the Experimental Design:

This part of the study is a control condition that will consist of stimulation over occipital and parietal cortex with electrodes over Cz and Oz. Participants will then receive 2mA alternating current stimulation between 8Hz and 12Hz (based on their individual alpha frequency determined by a 2 min eyes closed recording) or sham stimulation for 20 minutes (approximately the duration of the TTCT test) in a resting condition where they will have to focus on a cross hair on a computer screen. EEG will be collected simultaneously during this.

In both conditions, the participants wear a Pupil eye tracking headset, which is commercially available. This allows to monitor eye movements and to obtain physiological relevant measures of the pupil.

To obtain a measure of the heart rate during both conditions, ECG electrodes as part of the EEG acquisition system are placed on the participant's body. Ideally one electrode below the left collarbone and a second below the right chest.

Respiration Effort is measured in both conditions by a SleepSense sleep-lab sensor that is placed with an elastic band over the participants chest and connected to the EEG acquisition system.

Before each session, a questionnaire will be administered to the participant to assess the alertness state.

The entire procedure will be conducted by study personnel with documented training using brain stimulators and EEG.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females at least 18 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• History of major neurological or psychiatric illness, including epilepsy
• Medication use associated with neurological or psychiatric illnesses
• Currently undergoing counseling or psychotherapy treatment for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, or other behavior conditions
• First degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with neurological or psychiatric illness (past and present)
• Prior brain surgery
• Head injury
• Any brain devices/implants (including cochlear implants and aneurysm clips)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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32 participants in 2 patient groups

Sham Stim followed by Alpha Stim

Experimental group

Description:

20 minutes of sham stimulation (sham stim) is followed by a washout period of 20 minutes. 20 minutes of alpha stimulation (alpha stim) is applied next. Sham stimulation mimics the physical effects of stimulation, with up to 1 minute of stimulation during the session. Sham stimulation is delivered using the NeuroConn Plus Stimulator Sham. Participants will receive 2 mA alternating current stimulation at their individual alpha frequency (8-12 Hz, as determined by the 2 minute resting state EEG) for 20 minutes. Alpha stimulation is delivered using the NeuroConn Plus Stimulator tACS.

Treatment:

Other: NeuroConn Plus Stimulator Sham

Other: NeuroConn Plus Stimulator tACS

Alpha Stim followed by Sham Stim

Experimental group

Description:

20 minutes of alpha stimulation (alpha stim) is followed by a washout period of 20 minutes. 20 minutes of sham stimulation (sham stim) is applied next. Participants will receive 2 mA alternating current stimulation at their individual alpha frequency (8-12 Hz, as determined by the 2 minute resting state EEG) for 20 minutes. Alpha stimulation is delivered using the NeuroConn Plus Stimulator tACS. Sham stimulation mimics the physical effects of stimulation, with up to 1 minute of stimulation during the session. Sham stimulation is delivered using the NeuroConn Plus Stimulator Sham.

Treatment:

Other: NeuroConn Plus Stimulator Sham

Other: NeuroConn Plus Stimulator tACS