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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01791790

Effects of Brain Stimulation During Nocturnal Sleep on Memory Consolidation in Elderly Healthy Subjects

The beneficial effect of nocturnal sleep on memory consolidation is well-documented in young, healthy subjects. Especially, periods rich in slow-wave sleep (SWS) have shown a memory enhancing effect on hippocampus-dependent declarative memory. Slow oscillatory activity typically occuring during SWS has been implicated in the consolidation effect. Recent evidence in young healthy subjects suggest that the sleep-associated consolidation effect can be amplified by the application of a weak transcranial oscillatory electric current within the frequency range of SWS in humans (0,7-0,8 Hz) during SWS. If elderly, healthy subjects benefit from transcranial slow oscillatory stimulation (tSOS) during nocturnal sleep as well has not been studied so far. The primary aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of a weak slow oscillating brain stimulation (tSOS) on declarative memory consolidation applied during periods of nocturnal SWS in elderly healthy subjects.

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Key information

Conditions

Elderly Subjects

Age range

50 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Charite CCM Neurologie Berlin

Berlin, 10117, Germany

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • elederly, healthy Subjects
  • unobtrusive, neuropsychological screening
  • age: 50-90 years
  • right handed

Exclusion criteria

  • untreated severe internal or psychiatric diseases
  • epilepsy
  • other severe neurological diseases eg., previous major stroke, brain tumour, dementia
  • contraindications to MRI

Treatment and study plan

Stimulation

Device

Other names: oscillating direct current brain stimulation

SHAM

Device

no stimulation

Primary outcomes

  1. Retention of declarative memories after 0.75 Hz stimulation during SWS, vs after sham stimulation during SWS

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Retention between stimulation conditions (0.75 Hz during SWS, vs sham stimulation during SWS) in the declarative memory task.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Amount of Slow wave Sleep, spindels, eeg-correlates, further memory systems

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    • Amount of slow wave sleep assessed by standard polysomnographic criteria in 0,75 Hz vs SHAM stimulation during SWS.
    • Spindel activity during sleep indicated via several spindel parameters like number, duration, frequency of spindles; compared between 0,75 Hz and SHAM stimulation during SWS.
    • Neuronal correlates (EEG-power in slow oscillation frequency bands induced by 0,75 Hz vs SHAM stimulation during SWS; EEG-correlates of encoding and retrieval of a declarative memory task).
    • Performance in further memory systems (procedural), compared between 0,75 Hz and SHAM stimulation during SWS.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Transcranial Slow Oscillating Stimulation on Memory Consolidation During Nocturnal Slow Wave Sleep in Elderly Healthy Subjects

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Feb 15, 2013
Registry last updated
May 24, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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