Protocol Number: 07-N-0147

Title:

Effect of Direct Current Brain Polarization on Verbal Memory

Number:

07-N-0147

Summary:

This study will test the effect of direct current (DC) brain polarization (the application of a very weak electrical current to the brain) on learning and memory. Earlier studies have shown that DC polarization can temporarily improve the ability of healthy people to think of certain words. This study will explore whether it can also temporarily improve learning and memory.

Healthy people 18 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. Subjects participate in two experimental sessions at the NIH Clinical Center. The first session lasts about 1 hour; the second session, on the next day, takes about 10 minutes.

At the beginning of the first session, electrodes are placed on the subject's head and arm for brain stimulation. The current may be turned on for 25 minutes, or only very briefly (sham stimulation). Subjects are not told which type of stimulation they are receiving. No stimulation is applied in the second session.

During the sessions subjects are asked to complete the following tasks that will help elucidate the effects of polarization:

-Read a list of words and remember them. Later they will try to repeat the words from memory.

-Look at a series of designs and remember them. Later they will try to draw the designs from memory.

-Push a button on a keyboard when they see a specific item (for example, when the number 7 appears).

-Generate as many words as they can think of that begin with a particular letter of the alphabet.

Subjects may be videotaped for some or all of the time during the sessions.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Healthy volunteers over age 18. Pregnancy is not an exclusion.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Any history of a central nervous system illness or other behavioral disorder.

Broken skin in the area of the electrodes.

Uncontrolled medical problems, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, airway disease, heart failure, coronary artery disease, or any other condition that poses a risk for the subject during participation.

Presence of metal in the cranial cavity.

Holes in the skull made by trauma or surgery.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Frontal Lobe

Language

Dementia

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Condition(s):

Healthy

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

Device: DC Brain Polarization

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Herwig U, Satrapi P, Schonfeldt-Lecuona C. Using the international 10-20 EEG system for positioning of transcranial magnetic stimulation. Brain Topogr. 2003 Winter;16(2):95-9.

BINDMAN LJ, LIPPOLD OC, REDFEARN JW. Long-lasting changes in the level of the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex produced bypolarizing currents. Nature. 1962 Nov 10;196:584-5.

CREUTZFELDT OD, FROMM GH, KAPP H. Influence of transcortical d-c currents on cortical neuronal activity. Exp Neurol. 1962 Jun;5:436-52.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Networks and Applications, CC.

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