Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Restructuring the Alpha-Gamma Code in Aging Vision

ConditionsAgingVisual PerceptionNoninvasive Brain Stimulation
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseEarly Phase 1
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorBoston University Charles River Campus

About this trial

Tests whether age-related visual deficits arise from disrupted alpha-gamma coupling in visual cortex (V1) and MT. Uses fMRI, source-resolved HD-EEG, and personalized complex-waveform HD-tACS to (1) quantify aging effects on phase-amplitude coupling, (2) drive PAC into a preferred "gamma-at-alpha-troughs" state, and (3) bidirectionally change perception by aligning gamma to alpha troughs vs peaks. Two five-day, double-blind, sham-controlled studies (n=120 each) target contrast sensitivity (V1) and 3D shape-from-motion (MT), aiming for mechanistic insight and remediation in older adults with implications for ADRD.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

18+ years of age or older

normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity, color vision, and stereo vision

Disqualifiers

not pregnant,

no metal implants in head,

no implanted electronic devices,

no history of neurological problems or head injury,

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

  • High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation

    Device

    Low-intensity and safe, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of gradually modulating levels of neuronal excitability.

Treatment groups

240 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: active stimulationExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: sham stimulationSham comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

contrast sensitivity

Orientation identification task

Time frame
Baseline (pre-stimulation) and immediately post-stimulation, collected on each of the 5 study days.
2

3D structural-from-motion

surface point lifetime (unlimited, 12 and 2 successive views) on 3D discrimination task

Time frame
Baseline (pre-stimulation) and immediately post-stimulation, collected on each of the 5 study days.
3

phase-amplitude coupling

alpha phase, gamma amplitude coupling (magnitude of coherency)

Time frame
Baseline (pre-stimulation) and immediately post-stimulation, collected on each of the 5 study days.

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Boston University Charles River Campus

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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