Influence of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cortical Plasticity in Concussed Athletes

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Concussed Athletes; Healthy Controls

Treatments: Behavioral: tDCS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01593956

EA1/021/12

Details and patient eligibility

About

Concussed athlethes have discrete decreased abilities in motor learning. Recent research could further show, that cortical plasticity, as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is reduced. This is possibly due to an increased GABAergic activity, what have been found in concussed athletes by paired pulse protocols in TMS.

GABAergic acitivty can be modulated by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a polar-specific manner: anodal tDCS was able to decrease GABA, whereas cathodal tDCS increased tDCS.

Our study aimes to assess the influence of anodal tDCS on cortical plsticity in concussed athlethes. We hypothesize, that anodal tDCS is able to increase cortical plsticity in concussed athlethes.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• history of at least 2 sports concussion
• age 18 - 50 years

Exclusion criteria

• structural deficit on cerebral MRI
• Epilepsy
• neurological disorder
• intake of CNS-active drugs

Trial design

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Concussed athletes

Other group

Treatment:

Behavioral: tDCS

Healthy controls

Other group

Treatment:

Behavioral: tDCS