Understanding Brain Mechanisms Involved in Autobiographical Memory

ConditionsMild Cognitive Impairment Alzheimer Disease Memory Loss

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age18-85

SponsorLucie Bréchet

About this trial

The overall objective of this project is to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of brain oscillations underpinning autobiographical memory (ABM) and the modulation of the memory network using non-invasive brain stimulation.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age 18 to 35 years old (younger adults)

Age 55+ years old (older adults)

without any cognitive impairment (based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: MoCA)

willing and capable to give informed consent for participation in the study after it has been thoroughly explained able

Disqualifiers

any cognitive impairment captured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) - score < 26

major psychiatric co-morbidity including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis

blindness or other disabilities that prevent task performance

Contraindication for undergoing MRI

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG)
Device
EEG will be recorded with a 257-channel EEG system (Geodesic Sensor Net, MegStim). An EEG net is applied at once on the head with evenly spaced sensors that provide full scalp coverage, including the cheek, Ag/Ag-Cl electrodes that are interconnected by thin rubber bands and contain small sponges soaked with saline water that touches the participant's scalp surface directly. Net application takes about 10 min to derive impedances to \<30 kOhms. EEG is recorded with 1 kHz and band-pass filtered between 0.1-200 Hz. Vertex electrode Cz is used as an acquisition reference.
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
Device
tACS will be delivered by a battery-driven current stimulator Starstim SS32 (Neuroelectrics) through surface Ag/AgCl electrodes placed into holes of a neoprene cap corresponding to the international 10/20 EEG system. Gel (Parker Lab, Inc.) will be applied to optimize signal conductivity and lower impedance.

Treatment groups

120 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: neurophysiological measurementsExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: neuropsychological examinationExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Spatiotemporal dynamic changes measured with electroencephalography (hdEEG)

Changes in spatiotemporal dynamics in different frequency bands (theta, alpha, beta, gamma) will be assessed with hdEEG

Time frame

up to 30 minutes

Cognitive Assessment

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) will be administered to characterize the cognitive status

Time frame

baseline

Sponsors and contacts

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

Lucie Bréchet

Lead sponsor

University of Geneva, Switzerland

Sponsor institution

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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