Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)NCT07089069
Intensity-Dependent Effects of 4-week Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Healthy Young Adults
A study testing 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation and 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation in people with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), run by Beijing Sport University.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of different intensities of transcranial direct current stimulationover primary motor cortex on motor learning in healthy adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
- What is being tested?
- 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation and 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 20 Jul 2025to 1 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- age between 18 and 25 years; (2) normal or corrected-to-normal vision; (3) no history of pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, other physical impairments or illnesses, and no personal or family history of mental illness; (4) no implantation of any internal or external medical devices; and (5) right-handedness.
Who cannot join
- -
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of different intensities of transcranial direct current stimulationover primary motor cortex on motor learning in healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is:
Which intensity of tDCS can best improve motor learning? Researchers will compare 1 mA, 2 mA, and 3 mA tDCS to sham tDCS to see which intensity of tDCS is most effective in improving the ability of motor learning.
Participants will be randomly divided into four groups and receive 4 different intensities of tDCS(1 mA, 2 mA, 3 mA and sham tDCS),and will be blinded to the type of tDCS they received. We hypothesized that anodal tDCS at 2 mA would produce the most substantial improvement in motor learning.
Read the detailed description
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different intensities of tDCS-specifically 1 mA, 2 mA, and 3 mA-on motor learning in healthy adults. Both the acute effects following a single tDCS session and the cumulative effects after a 4-week intervention (10 sessions) were evaluated. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether improvements in motor learning induced by 4 weeks of repeated tDCS would be sustained one week after completion of the intervention. We hypothesized that anodal tDCS at 2 mA would produce the most substantial improvement in motor sequence learning, both following a single session and after a 4-week intervention, compared to 1 mA, 3 mA, and sham stimulation. Furthermore, we expected that the motor learning gains observed in the 2 mA group would be sustained one week post-intervention, indicating the persistence of tDCS-induced effects. In contrast, we anticipated minimal improvement in the 1 mA group due to insufficient stimulation intensity, and no additional or even reduced benefits in the 3 mA group compared to the 2 mA group.
- Being tested
- 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation, 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation, sham transcranial direct current stimulation
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, motor learning, Healthy young adults
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
3 mA transcranial direct current stimulationDevice
The intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The stimulation intensity will be set at 3 mA. The stimulation will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead.
2 mA transcranial direct current stimulationDevice
The intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The stimulation intensity will be set at 2 mA. The stimulation will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead.
1 mA transcranial direct current stimulationDevice
The intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The stimulation intensity will be set at 1 mA. The stimulation will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead.
sham transcranial direct current stimulationDevice
The intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The intervention will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation，but there is not current in between. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation | Experimental | The participants will receive 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. Receives: Device: 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation |
| 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation group | Experimental | The participants will receive 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. Receives: Device: 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation |
| 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation group | Experimental | The participants will receive 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. Receives: Device: 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation |
| sham transcranial direct current stimulation group | Sham comparator | The participants will receive sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. Receives: Device: sham transcranial direct current stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sequence Reaction Time Task
In this task, a white circle appears above one of four horizontally arranged white squares on the computer screen with black background. Participans were instructed to press the proper button on the response pad (buttons H, J, K, L) using the corresponding finger of the right hand (index finger for button H, middle finger for button J, ring finger for button K, and small finger for button L) when the white circle appeared at the left side, middle-left side, middle-right side, or right side of the computer screen, respectively. Each session consists of eight blocks, with each block comprising 120 trials.
Measured: Assessments will conducted before the intervention (Baseline), immediately after the first intervention (T1), at the end of 4 weeks (T2), and 1 week after the end of intervention (T3).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Jul 2025
- Study start20 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 2025 (estimated)
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 Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07089069
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025044H
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 28 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: The specific contents of the IPD that can be shared have not yet been determined.
Publications
Yang Z, Zhang J, Nitsche MA, Yue T, Qi F. Intensity-Dependent Effects of 4-Week Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Healthy Young Adults. J Mot Behav. 2026 Oct 31:1-14. doi: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2756387. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42965860
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Intensity-Dependent Effects of 4-week Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Healthy Young Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07089069
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025044H
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, motor learning, Healthy young adults
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 15 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Jul 2025 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of different intensities of transcranial direct current stimulationover primary motor cortex on motor learning in healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is:
Which intensity of tDCS can best improve motor learning? Researchers will compare 1 mA, 2 mA, and 3 mA tDCS to sham tDCS to see which intensity of tDCS is most effective in improving the ability of motor learning.
Participants will be randomly divided into four groups and receive 4 different intensities of tDCS(1 mA, 2 mA, 3 mA and sham tDCS),and will be blinded to the type of tDCS they received. We hypothesized that anodal tDCS at 2 mA would produce the most substantial improvement in motor learning.
Detailed description
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different intensities of tDCS-specifically 1 mA, 2 mA, and 3 mA-on motor learning in healthy adults. Both the acute effects following a single tDCS session and the cumulative effects after a 4-week intervention (10 sessions) were evaluated. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether improvements in motor learning induced by 4 weeks of repeated tDCS would be sustained one week after completion of the intervention. We hypothesized that anodal tDCS at 2 mA would produce the most substantial improvement in motor sequence learning, both following a single session and after a 4-week intervention, compared to 1 mA, 3 mA, and sham stimulation. Furthermore, we expected that the motor learning gains observed in the 2 mA group would be sustained one week post-intervention, indicating the persistence of tDCS-induced effects. In contrast, we anticipated minimal improvement in the 1 mA group due to insufficient stimulation intensity, and no additional or even reduced benefits in the 3 mA group compared to the 2 mA group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation | Experimental | Device: 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulationThe participants will receive 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. |
| 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation group | Experimental | Device: 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulationThe participants will receive 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. |
| 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation group | Experimental | Device: 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulationThe participants will receive 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. |
| sham transcranial direct current stimulation group | Sham comparator | Device: sham transcranial direct current stimulationThe participants will receive sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex(M1) intervention for a period of four weeks (10 sessions), but the participants will be blinded of what kind of intervention they are receiving. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- age between 18 and 25 years; (2) normal or corrected-to-normal vision; (3) no history of pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, other physical impairments or illnesses, and no personal or family history of mental illness; (4) no implantation of any internal or external medical devices; and (5) right-handedness.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulationThe intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The stimulation intensity will be set at 3 mA. The stimulation will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead. | Device | 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation group |
| 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulationThe intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The stimulation intensity will be set at 2 mA. The stimulation will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead. | Device | 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation group |
| 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulationThe intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The stimulation intensity will be set at 1 mA. The stimulation will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead. | Device | 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation |
| sham transcranial direct current stimulationThe intervention will be conducted using a battery-powered stimulator (TCS-E2000, Shenzhen Yingchi Technology Co., Ltd) through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (5 cm × 7 cm).The intervention will last for 20 minutes each time, with a 10 s fade-in period at the start and a 10-s fade-out period at the end of stimulation，but there is not current in between. The participants will receive intervention lasting for four weeks(10 sessions).The anodal electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the reference electrode will be positioned at the center of the forehead. | Device | sham transcranial direct current stimulation group |
Primary outcome
Sequence Reaction Time Task
Time frame: Assessments will conducted before the intervention (Baseline), immediately after the first intervention (T1), at the end of 4 weeks (T2), and 1 week after the end of intervention (T3).
In this task, a white circle appears above one of four horizontally arranged white squares on the computer screen with black background. Participans were instructed to press the proper button on the response pad (buttons H, J, K, L) using the corresponding finger of the right hand (index finger for button H, middle finger for button J, ring finger for button K, and small finger for button L) when the white circle appeared at the left side, middle-left side, middle-right side, or right side of the computer screen, respectively. Each session consists of eight blocks, with each block comprising 120 trials.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jul 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42965860Yang Z, Zhang J, Nitsche MA, Yue T, Qi F. Intensity-Dependent Effects of 4-Week Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Learning in Healthy Young Adults. J Mot Behav. 2026 Oct 31:1-14. doi: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2756387. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. The specific contents of the IPD that can be shared have not yet been determined.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 3 mA transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation and 1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation in people with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), run by Beijing Sport University.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Sequence Reaction Time Task (time frame: Assessments will conducted before the intervention (Baseline), immediately after the first intervention (T1), at the end of 4 weeks (T2), and 1 week after the end of intervention (T3).). 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 NCT07089069, 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 28 Jul 2025.