HealthyNCT05929014
Effects of Different Intensities of Bilateral- and Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Healthy Individuals
A study testing study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS and study 2) active cathodal-tDCS in people with Healthy, run by Mahidol University at 1 site in Thailand.
Trial summary
This study will separate study to investigate the effects of 1 mA, 1.5 mA, and 2 mA of 1) bilateral- and 2) cathodal tDCS on cortical activity and motor learning in healthy individuals Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 29 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- What is being tested?
- study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS and study 2) active cathodal-tDCS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteThailand
- Study dates
- 24 Jun 2023to 28 Feb 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 29 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 1. Age 18-29 years old
- 2. Righ-hand dominant according to the Edinburgh handedness inventory
- 3. No injury to both upper and lower limb for the past 6 months
Who cannot join
- 1. Presence of any neurological disorders
- 2. Presence of metal implantation, intracranial shunt, cochlear implantation, or cardiac pacemakers
- 3. Presence of opened wound or infectious wound around scalp
- 4. History of epilepsy or any neurological antecedent or unstable condition which can lead to seizure
- 5. Body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2
- 6. Received hormonal treatment and/or drugs that increase sleepiness and affect movement control
- 7. Ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular ischemia
- 8. Last stage of kidney disease and liver disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Thailand1 site
Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University
Salaya, Nakonpathom, 73170
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Different Intensities of Bilateral- and Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Cortical Activity and Motor Learning in Healthy Individuals
This study will separate study to investigate the effects of 1 mA, 1.5 mA, and 2 mA of 1) bilateral- and 2) cathodal tDCS on cortical activity and motor learning in healthy individuals
Read the detailed description
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is one of the non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. It delivers weak direct current through the scalp via two electrodes. tDCS has been shown to modulate cortical excitability in polarity-specific effects; anodal increases cortical excitability, while cathodal decreases it. tDCS can be applied in two distinct montages: unilateral (an active electrode is applied over the cerebral cortex, while a reference electrode is applied over the contralateral orbit) and bilateral-tDCS (applying two electrodes simultaneously over both cerebral hemispheres). Many tDCS studies have been used as an add-on therapy in stroke patients which aimed to enhance motor re-learning after stroke. Anodal tDCS has been used to enhance cortical excitability in the lesioned hemisphere while cathodal tDCS is used to decrease it in the non-lesioned hemisphere and thus to rebalance the interhemispheric inhibition (IHI). However, there were recent studies reporting the reverse effect of cathodal-tDCS on cortical excitability at high doses. However, the effects of bilateral-tDCS among different doses on cortical excitability and on motor performance are still controversial.
The present study will be separated into 2 sub studies to investigated the effects of different intensities of 1) bilateral- and 2) cathodal-tDCS on cortical activity and functional outcomes in healthy individuals. A single session of different intensities of 1) bilateral-tDCS and 2) cathodal-tDCS (i.e., 1 mA, 1.5 mA, 2 mA vs. sham) will be combined with serial reaction time task (SRTT) in healthy individuals. Cortical activity (i.e., brain symmetry index (BSI)) will be measured as a primary outcome. The reaction time of serial reaction time task will be served as the secondary outcome. Cortical activity will be evaluated before and after the intervention, while reaction time will be evaluated before, during, and after the intervention.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Being tested
- study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS, study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCS, study 2) active cathodal-tDCS, study 2) Sham chathodal-tDCS
- Keywords
- tDCS, Cortical activity, Healthy, Motor learning, Brain symmetry index
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
study 1) Active bilateral-tDCSDevice
Also called MINDD STIM; Ybrain Inc., Korea
The tDCS is non-invasive brain stimulation technique applied over the participant's scalp using a reference to the International 10-20 electrode Placement System for EEG electrode placement. The cathodal and anodal electrodes will be applied over the right and left primary motor areas, respectively.
study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCSDevice
Participants will be received sham mode. The electrodes will be applied over bilateral primary motor areas.
study 2) active cathodal-tDCSDevice
Also called MINDD STIM; Ybrain Inc., Korea
The tDCS is non-invasive brain stimulation technique applied over the participant's scalp using a reference to the International 10-20 electrode Placement System for EEG electrode placement. The cathodal and anodal electrodes will be applied over the left supra orbital area and cahtodal electrodes will be applied over the primary motor areas.
study 2) Sham chathodal-tDCSDevice
Participants will be received sham mode. The anodal electrode will be applied over the left supra orbital area and cathodal electrode will be applied over the right primary motor area.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS | Active comparator | Participants will be received different intensities which are 1 mA, 1.5 mA and 2 mA for 20 minutes during performed serial reaction time task. The tDCS will be set with bilateral montage which applied anodal electrode over left hemisphere and cathodal electrode over right hemisphere. Receives: Device: study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS |
| study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCS | Sham comparator | Participants will be received sham of bilateral tDCS during performed serial reaction time task. Receives: Device: study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCS |
| study 2) Active cathodal-tDCS | Active comparator | Participants will be received different intensities which are 1 mA, 1.5 mA and 2 mA for 20 minutes during performed serial reaction time task. The tDCS will be set with cathodal montage which applied anodal electrode over right supra orbital and cathodal electrode over left hemisphere. Receives: Device: study 2) active cathodal-tDCS |
| study 2) Sham cathodal-tDCS | Sham comparator | Participants will be received sham of cathodal tDCS during performed serial reaction time task. Receives: Device: study 2) Sham chathodal-tDCS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cortical activity
Acquired by electroencephalography (EEG)
Measured: 5 minutes
The reaction time
Measured the reaction time from serial reaction time task
Measured: 30 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jul 2023
- Study start24 Jun 2023
- Primary completion30 Nov 2023
- Study completion28 Feb 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Mahidol UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- The participants of 2 sub studies (bilateral-tDCS and cathodal-tDCS) who will participate in the study will be randomly received 1 mA or 1.5 mA or 2 mA or sham with the washout period for at least 2 weeks.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mahidol University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Wanalee Klomjai, PhD, Principal investigator, Mahidol University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05929014
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MU-CIRB 2023/016.1601
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 25 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 15 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Prathum T, Dauguet J, Apiworajirawit I, Aneksan B, Hoisan S, Tragangoon A, Siripornpanich V, Klomjai W. Modulation of interhemispheric inhibition and motor learning by different intensities of bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation in healthy adults. Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 22;15(1):45140. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33298-8.
PubMed 41429892
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Different Intensities of Bilateral- and Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Cortical Activity and Motor Learning in Healthy Individuals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05929014
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MU-CIRB 2023/016.1601
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- tDCS, Cortical activity, Healthy, Motor learning, Brain symmetry index
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Mahidol UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Feb 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will separate study to investigate the effects of 1 mA, 1.5 mA, and 2 mA of 1) bilateral- and 2) cathodal tDCS on cortical activity and motor learning in healthy individuals
Detailed description
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is one of the non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. It delivers weak direct current through the scalp via two electrodes. tDCS has been shown to modulate cortical excitability in polarity-specific effects; anodal increases cortical excitability, while cathodal decreases it. tDCS can be applied in two distinct montages: unilateral (an active electrode is applied over the cerebral cortex, while a reference electrode is applied over the contralateral orbit) and bilateral-tDCS (applying two electrodes simultaneously over both cerebral hemispheres). Many tDCS studies have been used as an add-on therapy in stroke patients which aimed to enhance motor re-learning after stroke. Anodal tDCS has been used to enhance cortical excitability in the lesioned hemisphere while cathodal tDCS is used to decrease it in the non-lesioned hemisphere and thus to rebalance the interhemispheric inhibition (IHI). However, there were recent studies reporting the reverse effect of cathodal-tDCS on cortical excitability at high doses. However, the effects of bilateral-tDCS among different doses on cortical excitability and on motor performance are still controversial.
The present study will be separated into 2 sub studies to investigated the effects of different intensities of 1) bilateral- and 2) cathodal-tDCS on cortical activity and functional outcomes in healthy individuals. A single session of different intensities of 1) bilateral-tDCS and 2) cathodal-tDCS (i.e., 1 mA, 1.5 mA, 2 mA vs. sham) will be combined with serial reaction time task (SRTT) in healthy individuals. Cortical activity (i.e., brain symmetry index (BSI)) will be measured as a primary outcome. The reaction time of serial reaction time task will be served as the secondary outcome. Cortical activity will be evaluated before and after the intervention, while reaction time will be evaluated before, during, and after the intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- The participants of 2 sub studies (bilateral-tDCS and cathodal-tDCS) who will participate in the study will be randomly received 1 mA or 1.5 mA or 2 mA or sham with the washout period for at least 2 weeks.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS | Active comparator | Device: study 1) Active bilateral-tDCSParticipants will be received different intensities which are 1 mA, 1.5 mA and 2 mA for 20 minutes during performed serial reaction time task. The tDCS will be set with bilateral montage which applied anodal electrode over left hemisphere and cathodal electrode over right hemisphere. |
| study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCS | Sham comparator | Device: study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCSParticipants will be received sham of bilateral tDCS during performed serial reaction time task. |
| study 2) Active cathodal-tDCS | Active comparator | Device: study 2) active cathodal-tDCSParticipants will be received different intensities which are 1 mA, 1.5 mA and 2 mA for 20 minutes during performed serial reaction time task. The tDCS will be set with cathodal montage which applied anodal electrode over right supra orbital and cathodal electrode over left hemisphere. |
| study 2) Sham cathodal-tDCS | Sham comparator | Device: study 2) Sham chathodal-tDCSParticipants will be received sham of cathodal tDCS during performed serial reaction time task. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 29 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 1. Age 18-29 years old
- 2. Righ-hand dominant according to the Edinburgh handedness inventory
- 3. No injury to both upper and lower limb for the past 6 months
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- 1. Presence of any neurological disorders
- 2. Presence of metal implantation, intracranial shunt, cochlear implantation, or cardiac pacemakers
- 3. Presence of opened wound or infectious wound around scalp
- 4. History of epilepsy or any neurological antecedent or unstable condition which can lead to seizure
- 5. Body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| study 1) Active bilateral-tDCSAlso: MINDD STIM; Ybrain Inc., KoreaThe tDCS is non-invasive brain stimulation technique applied over the participant's scalp using a reference to the International 10-20 electrode Placement System for EEG electrode placement. The cathodal and anodal electrodes will be applied over the right and left primary motor areas, respectively. | Device | Study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS |
| study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCSParticipants will be received sham mode. The electrodes will be applied over bilateral primary motor areas. | Device | study 1) Sham bilateral-tDCS |
| study 2) active cathodal-tDCSAlso: MINDD STIM; Ybrain Inc., KoreaThe tDCS is non-invasive brain stimulation technique applied over the participant's scalp using a reference to the International 10-20 electrode Placement System for EEG electrode placement. The cathodal and anodal electrodes will be applied over the left supra orbital area and cahtodal electrodes will be applied over the primary motor areas. | Device | study 2) Active cathodal-tDCS |
| study 2) Sham chathodal-tDCSParticipants will be received sham mode. The anodal electrode will be applied over the left supra orbital area and cathodal electrode will be applied over the right primary motor area. | Device | study 2) Sham cathodal-tDCS |
Primary outcome
Cortical activity
Time frame: 5 minutes
Acquired by electroencephalography (EEG)
The reaction time
Time frame: 30 minutes
Measured the reaction time from serial reaction time task
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Oct 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41429892Prathum T, Dauguet J, Apiworajirawit I, Aneksan B, Hoisan S, Tragangoon A, Siripornpanich V, Klomjai W. Modulation of interhemispheric inhibition and motor learning by different intensities of bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation in healthy adults. Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 22;15(1):45140. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33298-8.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Wanalee Klomjai, PhD principal investigator
Mahidol University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing study 1) Active bilateral-tDCS and study 2) active cathodal-tDCS in people with Healthy, run by Mahidol University at 1 site in Thailand.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Thailand. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Cortical activity (time frame: 5 minutes). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05929014, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Oct 2026.