Motor Imagery in Aphantasia

Sponsor
Hôpital le Vinatier
Study ID
NCT06140940
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Aphasia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • High-definition transcranial direct current (HD-tDCS), active condition — PROCEDURE
    Participants will receive a session of active HD-tDCS at a current intensity of 4 mA for a duration of 15min. The placement of electrodes will be determined to specifically target the primary motor cortex (4 x 1 montage with the anode over C4). During the stimulation, participants will be engaged in a mental training task (sequential finger tapping-task).
  • High-definition transcranial direct current (HD-tDCS), sham condition — PROCEDURE
    Participants will receive a session of sham HD-tDCS, which will be delivered following the same procedures as active HD-tDCS but the intensity of the current will be set at 4mA during the 30 first seconds at the beginning of the 15-min period of the stimulation, and equal to 0 mA for the reminding period of stimulation to simulate the tingling sensation often experienced by individuals during active stimulation. The placement of electrodes will be determined to specifically target the primary motor cortex (4 x 1 montage with the anode over C4). During the stimulation, participants will be engaged in a mental training task (sequential finger tapping-task).

Study Details

The present study aims to characterize and modulate motor imagery abilities in individuals with aphantasia. The investigators will characterize the neurophysiological and physiological underpinnings of mental imagery abilities in participants with aphantasia by investigating several indices of motor imagery abilities and comparing them to participants with typical mental imagery abilities. The investigators will investigate whether non-invasive brain stimulation applied to the primary motor cortex improves mental imagery abilities in participants with aphantasia.

Key Dates

First listed
Nov 21, 2023
Start date
Mar 28, 2024
Status verified
Jul 2025
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2027
Completion
Jan 1, 2028

Study Design

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

Arms

  • Experimental: active stimulation group: 20 participants with aphantasia will receive a session of active HD-tDCS
    Participants will receive a session of active HD-tDCS at a current intensity of 4 mA for a duration of 15min. The placement of electrodes will be determined to specifically target the primary motor cortex (4 x 1 montage with the anode over C4). During the stimulation, participants will be engaged in a mental training task (sequential finger tapping-task).
  • Placebo Comparator: placebo stimulation group: 20 participants with aphantasia will receive a session of sham HD-tDCS
    High-definition transcranial direct current (HD-tDCS), sham condition. Participants will receive a session of sham HD-tDCS, which will be delivered following the same procedures as active HD-tDCS but the intensity of the current will be set at 4mA during the 30 first seconds at the beginning of the 15-min period of the stimulation, and equal to 0 mA for the reminding period of stimulation to simulate the tingling sensation often experienced by individuals during active stimulation. The placement of electrodes will be determined to specifically target the primary motor cortex (4 x 1 montage with the anode over C4). During the stimulation, participants will be engaged in a mental training task (sequential finger tapping-task).

Primary Outcome Measure

Gains in motor performance following mental training [ Time Frame: 2 times: immediately before tDCS (baseline) and immediately after tDCS ]

Central Contacts

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