Effects of Brain Stimulation During Nocturnal Sleep on Memory Consolidation in Younger, Healthy Subjects

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy Subjects

Treatments: Device: SHAM; Device: brain stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01832740

Nighttime sleep-tSOS-Young

Details and patient eligibility

About

The beneficial effect of nocturnal sleep on memory consolidation is well-documented in young, healthy subjects. Especially, periods rich in slow-wave sleep (SWS) have shown a memory enhancing effect on hippocampus-dependent declarative memory. Slow oscillatory activity typically occuring during SWS has been implicated in the consolidation effect. In this study we investigate if the consolidation effect can be amplified by the application of a weak transcranial oscillatory electric current within the frequency range of SWS in humans (0,7-0,8 Hz) during nocturnal SWS.

Enrollment: 22 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy Subjects
• unobtrusive, neuropsychological screening
• age: 18-35 years
• right handed

Exclusion criteria

• untreated severe internal or psychiatric diseases
• epilepsy
• other severe neurological diseases eg., previous major stroke, brain tumour
• contraindications to MRI

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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22 participants in 2 patient groups

0,75 Hz stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

slow transcranial oscillating stimulation (\~0,75Hz) during periods of Slow Wave Sleep

Treatment:

Device: brain stimulation

SHAM stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

SHAM stimulation during periods of Slow Wave Sleep

Treatment:

Device: SHAM