Modulation of Fear Extinction Processes Using Transcranial Electrical Stimulation

Tel Aviv University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stress Related Disorder; Anxiety

Treatments: Device: Sham stimulation (1.5 milliampere,30 seconds); Device: DC stimulation (1.5 milliampere, 20 minutes); Device: AC stimulation (1.5 milliampere,1.5 Hertz frequency)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02723188

TASMC-13-TH-334

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on processes associated with fear extinction in healthy humans.

Full description

Research links the processes of fear conditioning and extinction to the treatment of anxiety and stress-related disorders. Moreover, considerable translational research examines the neural correlates of these processes. However, virtually no research in humans manipulates neural correlates of these processes, which limits basic-clinical integration. The present study aimed to use transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) to modulate processes associated with fear extinction in order to assess the potential utility of tES in enhancing exposure-based treatment. To this end, healthy participants underwent a three-day fear conditioning and extinction paradigm. Participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups, differing in terms of tES applied during the extinction learning phase (Day 2) and targeting the medial prefrontal cortex: 1) direct current (DC) stimulation, aimed at enhancing extinction learning; 2) alternate current (AC) stimulation, aimed at interfering with reconsolidation of the fear memory activated during the extinction phase; and 3) sham stimulation. The outcome measures (outlined next) involve the assessment of extinction recall during a test phase (Day 3). Successful modulation of extinction learning by tES would be reflected in enhanced extinction recall.

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria:

• Self-reported major psychiatric condition
• Screening specific for electrical stimulation (psychotropic medication, metal implants in head, epilepsy or seizure history)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

Sham

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Sham electrical stimulation

Treatment:

Device: Sham stimulation (1.5 milliampere,30 seconds)

DC: Direct current

Experimental group

Description:

Direct current electrical stimulation

Treatment:

Device: DC stimulation (1.5 milliampere, 20 minutes)

AC: Alternating current

Experimental group

Description:

Alternating current electrical stimulation

Treatment:

Device: AC stimulation (1.5 milliampere,1.5 Hertz frequency)