Investigating Accelerated Learning in Healthy Subjects

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03055884
• Recruitment Status: Suspended
• First Posted: February 16, 2017
• Last Update Posted: November 4, 2020
• Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Sven Vanneste, The University of Texas at Dallas

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether it is possible to accelerate learning and improve associative memory performance in healthy subjects, by (1) applying transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during a verbal paired-associate learning task and by (2) optimizing the learning method with repeated retrieval practice.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Healthy Adults	Device: tDCS; Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Associative memory refers to remembering the association between two items, such as a face and a name or a word in English and the same word in another language. It is not only important for learning, but it is also one of the first aspects of memory performance that is impacted by aging and by Alzheimer׳s disease. For decades, neuroscientists have investigated associative learning and memory and ways to accelerate and enhance associative learning and memory.

Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and painless electrical stimulation technique that has demonstrated to accelerate learning and improve memory in some studies. Previous research has also emphasized the importance of repeated retrieval practice as a way to accelerate learning and enhance associative memory performance. Therefore, this study will examine the effect of repeated retrieval practice on associative memory performance by using two versions of an associative memory task.

To investigate whether it is possible to accelerate learning and improve associative memory using tDCS and repeated retrieval practice, the performance in a Verbal Paired-Associate memory task during the first visit and 1 week after will be compared for four study groups. The first group will get active tDCS during a version of the verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice. The second group will get active tDCS during a version of the verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice. The third group will get sham tDCS during a version of the verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice and the fourth group will get Sham tDCS during a version of the verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 40 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Official Title: Investigating Accelerated Learning in Healthy Subjects
• Actual Study Start Date: February 13, 2017
• Actual Primary Completion Date: April 22, 2020
• Estimated Study Completion Date: December 22, 2020

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: active tDCS with repeated retrieval practice; active tDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice	Device: tDCS; active tDCS versus sham tDCS; Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task; with or without repeated retrieval practice
Experimental: active tDCS without repeated retrieval practice; active tDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice	Device: tDCS; active tDCS versus sham tDCS; Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task; with or without repeated retrieval practice
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS with repeated retrieval practice; sham tDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice	Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task; with or without repeated retrieval practice
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS without repeated retrieval practice; shamtDCS with verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice	Behavioral: Verbal paired-associate learning task; with or without repeated retrieval practice

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Associative Memory assessed by a Verbal Paired-Associate memory test [ Time Frame: baseline and 1 week after the tDCS ]
   Changes in performance in the Verbal Paired-Associate memory task is compared between the 4 groups (1. tDCS+verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice, 2. tDCS + verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice, 3. Sham tDCS+verbal paired-associate learning task with repeated retrieval practice, 4. Sham tDCS + verbal paired-associate learning task without repeated retrieval practice) to investigate the influence of tDCS and learning method on Associative Memory

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 35 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18-35 years
• Native English Speaker

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of severe head injuries,epileptic insults, or heart disease
• Severe psychiatric disorders and severe untreated medical problems.
• Acquainted with the foreign language used in the learning task
• Contraindications for tDCS (pregnant women, implanted devices)

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Texas

The University of Texas of Dallas

Richardson, Texas, United States, 75080

Sponsors and Collaborators

The University of Texas at Dallas

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Sven Vanneste; The University of Texas at Dallas

More Information

• Responsible Party: Sven Vanneste, Associate professor, The University of Texas at Dallas
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03055884
• Other Study ID Numbers: 17-34
• First Posted: February 16, 2017
• Last Update Posted: November 4, 2020
• Last Verified: November 2020

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Undecided

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: Yes

Keywords provided by Sven Vanneste, The University of Texas at Dallas:

transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); accelerated learning; memory