Interference With Cognitive Control by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

University Hospital Tuebingen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation; Device: Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01903538

211/2010BO1_2

Details and patient eligibility

About

Insufficient cognitive control over emotional distracters is characteristic for major depressive disorder (MDD). Hypoactivation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is associated with this deficit. In this study the investigators assess the effect of a decrease of dlPFC activity in healthy subjects by cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive control.

In a double-blinded, balanced randomized, sham-controlled crossover trial the investigators determine the effect of a single-session of cathodal tDCS to the left dlPFC on cognitive control in healthy subjects. To assess the cognitive control the investigators use a delayed response working memory task (DWM)and an arithmetic inhibition task (AIT) with pictures of varying valence.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

informed consent

Exclusion criteria

psychiatric or neurological disorders seizures cardiac pacemakers

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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28 participants in 2 patient groups

Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation

Experimental group

Treatment:

Device: Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation