Overview

Pilot Study Using an NMDA Antagonist to Modulate Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Effects on Sensory Discrimination

Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2016-04-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation which uses a very weak constant current to temporarily excite the brain area of interest via small electrodes placed on the scalp. Currently, tDCS is being used as a tool to investigate mental processes (cognition) and motor function (movement) in healthy controls and to treat neurological (i.e. stroke) and psychiatric (i.e. depression and dementia) patients. tDCS has been found to improve motor processes and cognitive performance, including attention and memory functions. This study will attempt to examine the effects of tDCS on a specific aspect of short term memory to sounds measured from electrical activity (EEG) from the top of the scalp. This study will also assess the effect of a drug, dextromethorphan (DMO), commonly found in cough syrup, which is thought to regulate tDCS treatment through brain receptors. The study involves four laboratory test sessions. EEG assessments will be done in two sessions involving 'anodal' tDCS stimulation (to temporarily excite cortical activity locally), one session with DMO treatment and one with placebo treatment, and two sessions involving 'sham' tDCS stimulation (device is turned off), with the same DMO and placebo treatments. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the brain chemistry involved in tDCS treatment and its effects on cognitive abilities.
Phase:
Phase 1/Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Ottawa
Treatments:
Dextromethorphan
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Healthy, medication free

- Non-smoker

- Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any current or past Axis I or Axis II disorder including a current or recent history
of alcohol/substance abuse

- A clinically significant medical illness or organic brain disorder known to cause
psychosis or cognitive impairment

- Any neurological diagnosis (including epilepsy)

- Recent head trauma (<6 months)

- Metallic implants or any electrical device (e.g., pacemaker) in the body

- Major learning disability

- Body mass index >38kg/m¬2

- Use of illicit drugs

- Abnormal hearing