Causal Role of the Aperiodic Signal for Working Memory

Part of paid clinical trials in Tallahassee, Florida.

Sponsor
Florida State University
Study ID
NCT06126809
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Executive Dysfunction

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 35 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Steep-tRAS — DEVICE
    Stimulation will be delivered via the NeuroConn Direct Current Stimulator Plus Multiple Channels, an investigational electrical non-invasive brain stimulation device that is being used for foundational neuroscience and translational research.
  • Flat-tRAS — DEVICE
    Stimulation will be delivered via the NeuroConn Direct Current Stimulator Plus Multiple Channels, an investigational electrical non-invasive brain stimulation device that is being used for foundational neuroscience and translational research.
  • Sham-tRAS — DEVICE
    Stimulation will be delivered via the NeuroConn Direct Current Stimulator Plus Multiple Channels, an investigational electrical non-invasive brain stimulation device that is being used for foundational neuroscience and translational research.

Study Details

Working memory (WM) is the ability to hold relevant information in mind in the absence of sensory input. The capacity for WM is a foundation for cognitive control and higher cognitive function more broadly. Previous research demonstrated that during the delay period of WM tasks, oscillatory electrical activity in the prefrontal cortex in the theta-frequency band (4-8 Hz) increased in amplitude. However, other groups found that the slope of the aperiodic signal in the brain was positively correlated with individual differences in WM capacity. Since low-frequency power and a steeper slope of the aperiodic signal are confounded in many analyses, it is not clear whether the slope of the aperiodic signal or the amplitude of low-frequency oscillations underlie WM capacity. With many studies investigating the causal role of theta oscillations in WM, the purpose of this project is to investigate the role of the aperiodic signal in WM performance.

Key Dates

Start date
Mar 25, 2024
Status verified
Jan 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026
Completion
Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Steep-tRAS,
    Transcranial random aperiodic stimulation (tRAS) delivers 1 milliampere (mA) zero-to-peak amplitude at the target electrodes and 2 mA at the return electrode. The condition of interest, steep-tRAS, mimics a steep slope of the aperiodic signal characterized by greater low relative to high frequency power. Participants receive all three types of stimulation in an intermixed, balanced, and randomized order. There are twelve total blocks of approximately five minutes of stimulation with four blocks of each type of stimulation.
  • Active Comparator: Flat-tRAS
    Transcranial random aperiodic stimulation (tRAS) delivers 1 milliampere (mA) zero-to-peak amplitude at the target electrodes and 2 mA at the return electrode. The active control, flat-tRAS, mimics a flat slope aperiodic signal characterized by greater high relative to low frequency power. Participants receive all three types of stimulation in an intermixed, balanced, and randomized order. There are twelve total blocks of approximately five minutes of stimulation with four blocks of each type of stimulation.
  • Sham Comparator: Sham-tRAS
    Transcranial random aperiodic stimulation (tRAS) delivers 1 milliampere (mA) zero-to-peak amplitude at the target electrodes and 2 mA at the return electrode. For active sham stimulation, steep-tRAS or flat-tRAS is delivered for only 15 seconds at the beginning and end of the block. This mimics the skin sensations (e.g., itching, burning, tingling) to assist with blinding the participant. Participants receive all three types of stimulation in an intermixed, balanced, and randomized order. There are twelve total blocks of approximately five minutes of stimulation with four blocks of each type of stimulation.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in number of remembered items [ Time Frame: 3 hours ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Florida State UniversityTallahasseeFlorida32306
Justin Riddle, PhD
[email protected]
850-645-2389
Justin Riddle, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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Florida State University· Tallahassee, FL

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