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CompletedNCT03148470Updated Apr 22, 2020Results posted

Impact of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Left DLPFC on Language Switching

An interventional study of Sham iTBS and Sham cTBS in Languages, sponsored by Jean-Marie Annoni. Completed at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-04-22.

Sponsored by Jean-Marie Annoni · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 8 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Sep 2016, registered May 2017).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
41
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether theta burst stimulation (TBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) influences language switching and cognitive flexibility. The experimental paradigm will assess the impact of inhibitory and excitatory prefrontal stimulation by TBS versus sham-TBS over the DLPFC in healthy bilinguals.

Read the detailed description

Background:

Clinical observations and neuroimaging studies seem to confirm the role of executive functions and frontal structures in language processing in bilingual subjects.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, such as for example theta burst stimulation (TBS), is increasingly being used as a valuable tool for neuroscientists investigating the underlying mechanisms of cognitive functions. Case studies have shown a change in language switching after bilingual patients received repetitive magnetic stimulation to the left DLPFC. However, there is no study investigating the effect of TBS applied to the DLPFC on language switching in healthy participants.

Procedure:

A planned total of 40 unbalanced bilingual participants will be included. Half of the participants will receive inhibitory theta burst stimulation (continuous TBS), the other half excitatory theta burst stimulation (intermittent TBS). After TBS, different language and nonverbal tasks will be performed while an EEG is measured. Before being stimulated, each subject will conduct the same tasks with a sham-TBS as a baseline measure.

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Conditions studied

  • Languages

Keywords

  • theta burst stimulation
  • Language switching
  • dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
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In context

Lead sponsor

Jean-Marie Annoni is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • L1 (Swiss)German, knowledge of English as a foreign language
  • 18-45 years of age
  • right-handedness

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • epilepsy / family history of epilepsy
  • brain surgery, traumatic brain injuries
  • cardiac pacemaker, metallic objects in the head
  • history of neurological diseases or severe psychiatric disorders
  • drug use (alcohol, psychoactive medication)
  • strong headache
  • pregnancy
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
41 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    intermittent theta burst stimulation

    intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) + Sham iTBS

    Device: Sham iTBS · Device: intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS)

  • Experimental
    continuous theta burst stimulation

    continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) + Sham cTBS

    Device: Sham cTBS · Device: continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS)

Interventions

  • DeviceSham iTBS

    Placebo stimulation for the iTBS group

  • DeviceSham cTBS

    Placebo stimulation for the cTBS group

  • Deviceintermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS)

    Excitatory theta burst stimulation

  • Devicecontinuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS)

    inhibitory theta burst stimulation

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. RTs for Picture Naming With the Factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching)

    Picture naming with the factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching): Speech onset times (msec) L1 refers to the mother tongue. L2 refers to the late acquired (\> age 7) second language. Switching Block refers to a language switching block with picture naming alternated between the mother tongue and the second language. Non-Switching Block refers to a block of picture naming either only in the mother or only in the second language.

    Time frame: Within 30 minutes after intervention

Secondary outcomes

  1. Nonverbal Switching

    Nonverbal Switching: response times

    Time frame: Within 30 minutes after intervention

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Results

Posted Apr 10, 2020

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneiTBS GroupcTBS Group
Started2120
Completed2020
Not completed10

Outcome measures

PrimaryRTs for Picture Naming With the Factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching)

Picture naming with the factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching): Speech onset times (msec) L1 refers to the mother tongue. L2 refers to the late acquired (\> age 7) second language. Switching Block refers to a language switching block with picture naming alternated between the mother tongue and the second language. Non-Switching Block refers to a block of picture naming either only in the mother or only in the second language.

Time frame:
Within 30 minutes after intervention
Reported as:
Mean · Milliseconds
RTs for Picture Naming With the Factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching)
MillisecondsRTs for PN After Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationRTs for PN After Continuous Theta Burst StimulationRTs for Picture Naming in L1RTs for Picture Naming in L2RTs for Picture Naming in the Non-switching BlocksRTs for Picture Naming in the Switching Blocks
RTs for Picture Naming With the Factors Language (L1, L2) and Block (Switching, Non-Switching)1103.32 ± 1261107.26 ± 1311098.82 ± 4051158.91 ± 4321081.14 ± 4141175.24 ± 420
Statistical analysis
  • RTs for PN After Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation vs RTs for PN After Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation vs RTs for Picture Naming in L1 vs RTs for Picture Naming in L2 vs RTs for Picture Naming in the Non-switching Blocks vs RTs for Picture Naming in the Switching Blocks · Mixed Models Analysis · p = 0.932 (This p-value refers to the effect of stimulation (cTBS vs iTBS).)
SecondaryNonverbal Switching

Nonverbal Switching: response times

Time frame:
Within 30 minutes after intervention
Reported as:
Mean · Milliseconds
Nonverbal Switching
MillisecondsIntermittent Theta Burst StimulationContinuous Theta Burst Stimulation
Nonverbal Switching772.07 ± 159.28739.32 ± 137.23
Statistical analysis
  • Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation vs Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation · Mixed Models Analysis · p = 0.642

Adverse events

Collected over 3 hours. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
cTBS0/20 (0%)0/20 (0%)0/20 (0%)
iTBS0/20 (0%)0/20 (0%)0/20 (0%)
Sham iTBS0/21 (0%)0/21 (0%)1/21 (4.8%)
Sham cTBS0/20 (0%)0/20 (0%)0/20 (0%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventcTBSiTBSSham iTBSSham cTBS
NauseaCardiac disorders0/200/201/210/20

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationContinuous Theta Burst StimulationTotal
Mean22.1 ± 2.722.8 ± 5.3622.4 ± 4.2
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationContinuous Theta Burst StimulationTotal
Female151631
Male6410
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationContinuous Theta Burst StimulationTotal
Count of participants——0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Intermittent Theta Burst StimulationContinuous Theta Burst StimulationTotal
Switzerland212041
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Study locations

1 site
  • Laboratory for Cognitive and Neurological Sciences
    Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
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References and documents

Publications

  • Holtzheimer P, Fawaz W, Wilson C, Avery D. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may induce language switching in bilingual patients. Brain Lang. 2005 Sep;94(3):274-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2005.01.003. PubMed 16098377 ↗
  • Lefaucheur JP, Andre-Obadia N, Antal A, Ayache SS, Baeken C, Benninger DH, Cantello RM, Cincotta M, de Carvalho M, De Ridder D, Devanne H, Di Lazzaro V, Filipovic SR, Hummel FC, Jaaskelainen SK, Kimiskidis VK, Koch G, Langguth B, Nyffeler T, Oliviero A, Padberg F, Poulet E, Rossi S, Rossini PM, Rothwell JC, Schonfeldt-Lecuona C, Siebner HR, Slotema CW, Stagg CJ, Valls-Sole J, Ziemann U, Paulus W, Garcia-Larrea L. Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Clin Neurophysiol. 2014 Nov;125(11):2150-2206. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.05.021. Epub 2014 Jun 5. PubMed 25034472 ↗
  • Nardone R, De Blasi P, Bergmann J, Caleri F, Tezzon F, Ladurner G, Golaszewski S, Trinka E. Theta burst stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates pathological language switching: A case report. Neurosci Lett. 2011 Jan 10;487(3):378-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.10.060. Epub 2010 Oct 29. PubMed 21036201 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jun 6, 2016

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 22, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03148470
Lead sponsor
Jean-Marie Annoni
Responsible party
Jean-Marie Annoni (Prof. Dr. med., University of Fribourg) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
May 11, 2017
Start date
Sep 2016
Primary completion
Jul 2018
Completion
Jul 2019
Results posted
Apr 10, 2020
Last update
Apr 22, 2020

Study contacts

Jean-Marie Annoni, Prof. Dr.
principal investigator · University of Fribourg

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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