Motor Training and White Matter in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Hasselt University

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Device: tDCS; Behavioral: Bimanual Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01279655

MECU2012-001

Details and patient eligibility

About

In the current study the researchers will firstly investigate whether a bimanual coordination training protocol (20 min/day, for 8 consecutive weeks) correlates with changes in white matter architecture and improved upper-limb functionality in patients with multiple sclerosis. Secondly, the researchers predict that motor learning is more efficient when it is combined with anodal transcranial direct current (tDCS) stimulation on the left primary motor cortex.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 68 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 2 and 6.5
• Stable MS (no relapse during the last 3 months before study onset)
• age: between 18 and 68 years

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with other pathologies associated with peripheral and/or central sensory dysfunction or under psychotropic or antiepileptic medication.
• Standard TMS/tDCS and MRI exclusion criteria (safety questionnaires)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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60 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

tDCS and training

Experimental group

Description:

Transcranial Direct current stimulation (tDCS) is applied together with a bimanual learning task. tDCS is delivered through two gel-sponge electrodes (eldith DC Stimulator, neuroConn GmbH, Ilmenau, Germany) embedded in a saline-soaked solution. tDCS will be applied for 20 min, with a current intensity of 1mA.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Bimanual Training

Device: tDCS

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

No intervention is applied

Sham tDCS + Training

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The training consists of a bimanual training task. tDCS is only applied for a few seconds and will than be ramped-down.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Bimanual Training

Device: tDCS