To investigate the direct role of DLPFC suppression in language comprehension and production performance
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
Onderzoek bij gezonde vrijwillgers
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Performance on a semantic judgment (i.e., language comprehension) and a picture
naming task (i.e., language production) as measured by reaction times/naming
latencies and error rates.
Secondary outcome
not applicable
Background summary
Over the past decades, a functional link between language comprehension and
verbal working memory has been established. The role of working memory in
language production, however, has not been explored in detail. By selectively
suppressing activity in the DLPFC, which has been related to working memory
function, the proposed study aims at investigating the causal link between
verbal working memory and language processing. We expect a performance decrease
in both language components as reflected by longer reaction times and/or higher
error rates.
Study objective
To investigate the direct role of DLPFC suppression in language comprehension
and production performance
Study design
Sham-controlled double-blind within-subjects design.
Intervention
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be delivered by a
battery-driven electric current stimulator (Eldith DC Stimulator (CE 0118),
llmenau) using two electrodes over left and right DLPFC (5x3 cm each).
Stimulation will be applied for 30 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA (current
density for each electrode: 0.133 mA/cm²), including 30 seconds of ramp-up and
30 seconds of ramp-down. This stimulation condition will be compared to a sham
condition in which no current is induced.
Study burden and risks
The currently proposed tDCS procedure and experiment does not carry any
significant risks. Stimulation will be performed in line with the Standard
Operating Procedure Non-lnvasive Brain Stimulation of the Donders Institute for
Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. Potential side-effects of tDCS are itching or
burning sensations on the under the electrodes, light headache and/or fatigue.
These are mild discomforts that respond promptly to common
analgesics.Volunteers can withdraw from the study at any given time and there
are no direct benefits for the participants. The novel insights will broaden
our fundamental understanding of the interaction between working memory and
language processing in the human brain.
Montessorilaan 3
Nijmegen 6525HR
NL
Montessorilaan 3
Nijmegen 6525HR
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Between 18-35 years of age years; Right-handed; Non-smoking; Normal or corrected-to-normal vision; Willingness and ability to give written informed consent and willingness and ability to understand the nature and content, to participate and to comply with the study requirements.
Exclusion criteria
1) Average use of more than 3 alcoholic beverages daily; (2) Use of psychotropic medication or recreational drugs; (3) Skin disease; (4) Pregnancy; (5) Serious head trauma or brain surgery; (6) Neurological or psychiatric disorders; (7) Large or ferromagnetic metal parts in the head (except for a dental wire); (8) Implanted cardiac pacemaker or neurostimulator; (9) Participation in a NBS study in the past 28 days; (10) Previous participation in 10 or more NBS studies.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL60867.091.17 |