HD-tDCS: Effects on the Somatosensory System

Aalborg University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Somatosensory Function; Brain Modulation; Neuroplasticity; Acute Pain

Treatments: Device: Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation; Device: Multimodal Stimulation (DLPFC+M1); Device: Sham stimulation; Device: Primary Motor Cortex Stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04165876

N-20180085.v1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of high definition tDCS on different cortical targets in modulating the nociceptive system in the healthy subjects.

Full description

The investigators aim to investigate the efficacy of different HD-tDCS electrode configurations on modulating the somatosensory/nociceptive system.

This is done to investigate the hypothesis, that different stimulation protocols can be used to modulate the somatosensory and nociceptive system, as shown in the previous studies, but that it is necessary to uncover the most efficient way to do so.

The study uses a double-blinded, sham-controlled, longitudinal design, where quantitative sensory testing will be used to assess the somatosensory function of the participants before and after a receiving a specific configuration of HD-tDCS on three consecutive days.

Enrollment: 81 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy men and women.
• Able to speak, read and understand English or Danish.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
• Current use of opioids, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines
• Previous or current neurological, musculoskeletal, rheumatic, malignant, inflammatory or mental illnesses
• Current or prior chronic pain conditions
• Lack of ability to cooperate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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81 participants in 4 patient groups

Primary motor cortex

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Primary Motor Cortex Stimulation

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation

Multi-modal stimulation (DLPFC+M1)

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Multimodal Stimulation (DLPFC+M1)

Sham-stimulation

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Sham stimulation