tDCS and Musical Performance in Young Orchestra Musicians

Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Musical Performance; Performance Anxiety; Neuromodulation

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

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06958081

88146925.0.0000.5235

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve the technical, expressive, and stage aspects of musical performance in young orchestra musicians aged 18 to 30 years. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does active tDCS improve musical performance compared to sham stimulation?
• Does active tDCS reduce music performance anxiety and increase musical self-efficacy? Researchers will compare the active tDCS group to the sham stimulation group to see if active stimulation has positive effects on musical performance and psychological factors.

Participants will:

• Receive either active or sham tDCS stimulation
• Perform a musical piece before and after stimulation
• Complete questionnaires about anxiety and musical self-confidence

Full description

This randomized pilot study aims to investigate the acute effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the technical, expressive, and stage aspects of musical performance in young orchestra instrumentalists.

A total of 24 musicians, aged 18 to 30 years, with at least three years of orchestral experience, will be randomly assigned to either an active tDCS group or a sham stimulation group. The stimulation will target the supplementary motor area (SMA) using a 2.0 mA anodal current for 30 minutes, with the cathode placed over Fp2. The sham group will undergo the same electrode placement, but the current will be turned off after 30 seconds.

The study will adopt a double-blind design, where neither participants, care providers, investigators, nor outcome assessors will know the group allocations. Each participant will perform a standardized musical piece before and after the intervention, and after a 2-hour interval post-intervention. Performances will be recorded and evaluated by independent expert judges using the Rubric for the Assessment of Music Performance Achievement.

Psychometric evaluations will be conducted using the Mazzarolo Music Performance Anxiety Scale (M-MPAS) and the General Musical Self-Efficacy Scale. Self-assessments of performance and sensations during stimulation will also be collected. Data analysis will compare changes in musical performance, anxiety, and self-efficacy between groups.

This study seeks to provide preliminary evidence on the potential of tDCS to enhance musical performance and psychological factors such as performance anxiety and self-confidence among young musicians. Safety and feasibility of the intervention will also be monitored throughout the study.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Musicians aged 18 to 30 years.
• Minimum of 3 years of orchestral performance experience.
• Active participation in a stable orchestra or ensemble.
• No history of neurological or psychiatric disorders.
• Not currently using psychotropic medications or recreational drugs.
• Willingness to participate in all study sessions.
• Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of metallic implants in the head (e.g., cranial pins, aneurysm clips).
• Presence of implanted electronic devices (e.g., pacemaker).
• History of epilepsy or seizures.
• Prior experience with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
• Scalp dermatitis or lesions at the electrode placement sites.
• Pregnancy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Active tDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with a 2.0 mA anodal current applied over the supplementary motor area (FCz) and cathodal electrode over Fp2 for 30 minutes.

Treatment:

Device: Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Sham tDCS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with the same electrode placement as the active group; however, the current will be turned off after 30 seconds to simulate the initial sensations without delivering prolonged stimulation.

Treatment:

Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)