An interventional study of Active tDCS and Sham tDCS in Healthy Volunteers and High-level Sportsman, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon. Status unknown at 2 sites in France. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 100 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-05-03.
Sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The study aims to compare the effects of tDCS applied on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) vs sham on the neuromuscular system. Two types of athletes will benefit from stimulation: jumper and cyclists. Short and long term effects are assesed by electromyographic records, experimental tasks and self-rated scales.
Transcranial direct current stimulation is a technique of noninvasive brain stimulation which delivers a electrical current to the scalp to modulate the neuronal activity. Depending on the polarity of stimulation, tDCS induces a neural hyperexcitability (with anode) or hypoexcitability (with cathode) of the target area.
Due to its neuromodulatory action, ease of use and low safety, tDCS can be used as a potential treatment but also as an investigative tool in neurophysiology. Thus, studies have shown a beneficial effect of tDCS on cognitive and motor functions. Nevertheless, studies conducted on motor performance and the reduction of neuromuscular fatigue show disparate results. It is impossible to conclude whether tDCS allows for improved performance and is a means of doping.
With a prospective, sham-controlled, crossover, double-blind design, this study aims to evaluate the effect of tDCS on neuromuscular fatigue resistance during explosive (jumping) and endurance (cycling) exertion.
This study is divided into two parts:
During Part A, participants visit the laboratory on 3 occasions. Each visit is organized in the same way and is at least 48 hours apart from the previous one.
Participants are divided into two groups according to their level of experience (amateurs vs. high level).
Before the session of tDCS, participants carry out a psychometric assessment (MCQ, BIS10) and experimental tasks (BART, EEFRT, STROOP test and Go NoGo task). Then, they performed three types of jumps (long jump, squat jump and countermovement jump). Finally, participants benefit from neuromuscular tests (EMG recording of plantar flexor muscle activity, percutaneous stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve).
Subjects will be submitted to three sessions of tDCS (2 actives and one sham), one by visit, in the order of randomization. Current intensity will be of 2 mA (or 0 mA), through 25 cm² surface electrodes, during 20 minutes. The positioning of the stimulation electrodes will be carried out in compliance with EEG 10/20 standards:
Immediately after the stimulation, participants perform motor and cognitive task again and the results are compared.
During part B, subjects participate in two training sessions of five days each. The training sessions are one month apart.
Participants are divided into three groups according to their level of experience (amateurs vs. high level vs. sedentary).
Each day, the subjects perform two twenty-minute time trials during which they receive a session of tDCS. (one week with the active tDCS, one week with the sham). So, subjects will be submitted to 10 tDCS stimulation sessions (active or sham) for five consecutive days (2 sessions of 20 minutes/day). Current intensity will be of 2 mA, through 25 cm² surface electrodes, placed over the dlPFC and the supraorbital region (anode position over F3 and cathode over AF8, according to the EEG 10-20 international system).
At J1 and J5 of each session (before and after session training), subjects carry out a psychometric assessment (MCQ, BIS10) and experimental tasks (BART, EEFRT, STROOP test and Go NoGo task) and benefit from neuromusculars tests (EMG recording of plantar flexor muscle activity, percutaneous stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve). Baseline measures will be compared to those obtained immediately after the end of sessions (5 days: short-term effects), and to 12 and 30 days later (long-term effects). Active and sham stimulation sessions outcomes will as well be compared.
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon is the lead sponsor of 439 studies on the registry; 97 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
According to groups :
Part A :
Part B :
Exclusion Criteria:
High level jump practice : more 4000 hours of practice during the last five years
Device: Active tDCS · Device: Sham tDCS
Amateur jump practice : less 4000 hours of practice during the last five years
Device: Active tDCS · Device: Sham tDCS
High level cycling practice: more 4000 hours of practice during the last five years
Device: Active tDCS · Device: Sham tDCS
Amateur cycling practice: less 4000 hours of practice during the last five years
Device: Active tDCS · Device: Sham tDCS
Sedentary : less two hours of recreationally practice of sport by week
Device: Active tDCS · Device: Sham tDCS
2 active tDCS sessions (20 min each, 2 mA) applied to the dlPFC and right motor cortex
Also known as: Starstim® (Neuroelectrics, Spain)
1 sham tDCS session (20 min, 0 mA) applied to the dlPFC
Also known as: Starstim® (Neuroelectrics, Spain)
10 tDCS sessions (2 sessions/day for 5 days, 20 mA, 20 min each) applied to the dlPFC
Also known as: Starstim® (Neuroelectrics, Spain)
10 tDCS sessions (2 sessions/day for 5 days, 0 mA, 20 min each) applied to the dlPFC
Also known as: Starstim® (Neuroelectrics, Spain)
Performance (in meters) measured during jumps
Performance measurement (in meters) during the three types of jumps (long jump, squat jump and countermovement jump) before and after tDCS session
Time frame: Day 5
Average power during the time trial before and after 10 tDCS sessions
Average power (in watts) measured during a 20min time trial before and after 10 tDCS sessions for 5 days
Time frame: Day 35
BIS-10 scores
Compared scores from the French version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10). The French version of the BIS-10 is a self-rated 34 item questionnaire, composed by three subscales: motor-impulsivity, cognitive-impulsivity and non-planning-impulsivity. Each item is scored on a 0 to 4 points scale. Higher scores indicate higher levels of impulsivity.
Time frame: Day 60
MCQ scores
Compared scores from the French version of the Monetary Choice Questionnaire. The MCQ is a self-rated 27 item questionnaire which assessed the discounting. Delay discounting is the decline in the present value of a reward with delay to its receipt. Example item: " Would you prefer 25€ today or 75€ in 15 days? " For each item, subjects must choose between a low immediate reward and a higher delayed reward. Waiting times vary from 7 days to 186 days, and rewards are divides into 3 magnitudes: low (25-35€), medium (50-60€), high (75-85€). This will allow assessing: * the influence of the the magnitude of the difference between the two rewards proposed, * the impact of the time on the reward's subjective value (speed at which the reward is devalued over time), reflected in the k index. This index is calculated separately for each magnitude, and an average index is calculated for each subject. The more the k index is high, the more the subject is considered impulsive.
Time frame: Day 60
Stroop task
Compared results from the experimental Stroop task, assessing response inhibition.
Time frame: Day 60
Go/No-Go task
Compared results from the experimental Go/No-Go task, assessing response inhibition.
Time frame: Day 60
Effort Expenditure for Reward Task
Compared results from the experimental Effort Expenditure for Reward Task, assessing motivation
Time frame: Day 60
Balloon Analog Risk Task
Compared results from the experimental Balloon Analog Risk task, assessing impulsivity
Time frame: Day 60
QIDS-C16 scale
Compared scores from the French version of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. The QIDS-C16 is a 16 item questionnaire completed by the clinician to assess the depressive symptomatology and the severity of the depression. These 16 items are constructed around the 9 following symptoms: * sad mood, * concentration, * autocriticism, * suicidal thoughts, * ahnedonia, * fatigue, * sleep disorders, * appetite/weight changes, * psychomotor retardation/agitation. This scaled is based on the intensity of each symptom in the 7 last days, regardless of its chronicity or its recent apparition. Each symptom is rated 0 to 3. The total score thus vary from 0 to 27.
Time frame: Day 60
QIDS-SR16 scale
Compared scores from the French version of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. The QIDS-SR16 is a self-rated 16 item questionnaire, assessing the intensity of depressive symptomatology. These 16 items are constructed around the 9 following symptoms: * sad mood, * concentration, * autocriticism, * suicidal thoughts, * ahnedonia, * fatigue, * sleep disorders, * appetite/weight changes, * psychomotor retardation/agitation. This scaled is based on the intensity of each symptom in the 7 last days, regardless of its chronicity or its recent apparition. Each symptom is rated 0 to 3. The total score thus vary from 0 to 27.
Time frame: Day 60
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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon