HealthyNCT07168031
tDCS of the Left dlPFC: Effects on Information Processing
A study testing Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in people with Healthy, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
This study investigates how a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), affects brain activity and information processing in younger and older adults. The stimulation uses a very weak electrical current applied through electrodes placed on the scalp. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- What is being tested?
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 196 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 6 Aug 2025to Aug 2027
- 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 20 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy younger adults (ages 20-40) or healthy older adults (ages 60-80)
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
- Right-handed (for consistency in brain stimulation)
- Able to give written informed consent and comply with study procedures
Who cannot join
- History of neurological or psychiatric disorders
- Current use of medications that affect the central nervous system
- Metal implants, pacemakers, or other contraindications for MRI or tDCS
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Pregnancy
- Participation in another brain stimulation study within the last 3 months
- Any condition judged by investigators to interfere with safe participation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Bern, Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Bern, 3000
Jessica Peter, Prof., +41 58 630 89 03, jessica.peter@unibe.ch
About this study
Official title: Neural and Age-Related Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Left dlPFC During Information Processing
This study investigates how a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), affects brain activity and information processing in younger and older adults. The stimulation uses a very weak electrical current applied through electrodes placed on the scalp. This method is safe and widely used in research to study brain function.
Participants will complete computer-based tasks while receiving either active brain stimulation or a placebo (sham) stimulation. The task is designed to engage specific mental processes so that the investigators can study how the brain responds under different conditions. Brain activity will be measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both while participants perform the tasks and while they are resting.
Read more
The study will compare healthy younger (ages 20-40) and older (ages 60-80) adults to explore whether age influences how the brain responds to stimulation. By examining patterns of brain activation and connectivity, the investigators aim to better understand how tDCS can modulate cognitive processing across the adult lifespan.
The hypothesis is that applying tDCS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex will change patterns of brain activity related to cognitive processing, and that these changes may differ between younger and older adults. This knowledge could help inform future research into brain stimulation techniques in different age groups.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Being tested
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
- Keywords
- Non-invasive brain stimulation, tDCS, fMRI, dlPFC, Hippocampus, Ageing, Neuroimaging
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Device
High definition tDCS will be applied, using a Soterix Medical device and 4x1 ring electrodes. A centre ring electrode overlying the target cortical region (left dlPFC at position F3 according to the 10-20 system) will be surrounded by four return electrodes (position F1, FC3, F5, and AF3).
Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Device
The same setup and device as in the active tDCS group will be used, but in this case stimulation will be turned off after a ramp-up phase of 30 seconds. This mimics the same sensory feeling as active tDCS.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS of the Left dlPFC | Experimental | Participants receive active anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during an information processing task for 22 minutes at 1 mA, with a gradual ramp-up and ramp-down of 30 seconds at the beginning and end of the stimulation. Receives: Device: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) |
| Sham tDCS of the Left dlPFC | Sham comparator | Participants receive sham tDCS with the same setup and initial ramp-up of current to mimic the sensation of active stimulation. The current is turned off after the ramp-up period, and no further stimulation is delivered during the task. Receives: Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Task Accuracy
Accuracy in responses during an information processing task, measured as the proportion of correct responses.
Measured: During the intervention
Task-Related Brain Activation
Changes in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal during the information processing task, measured using fMRI.
Measured: During the intervention
Resting-State Functional Connectivity
Changes in functional connectivity between brain regions before and after stimulation, measured using resting-state fMRI.
Measured: Immediately before and after the intervention
Secondary outcomes (1)
Task Reaction Time
Time in milliseconds between stimulus presentation and participant response during the information processing task.
Measured: During the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Sep 2025
- Study start6 Aug 2025
- Primary completionAug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 196 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Bern
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Jessica Peter, Prof., Principal investigator, UniversityClinics, University of Bern
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07168031
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 50012
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 28 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 11 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Neural and Age-Related Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Left dlPFC During Information Processing
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07168031
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 50012
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Non-invasive brain stimulation, tDCS, fMRI, dlPFC, Hippocampus, Ageing, Neuroimaging
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 196 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BernUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Sep 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.
This study investigates how a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), affects brain activity and information processing in younger and older adults. The stimulation uses a very weak electrical current applied through electrodes placed on the scalp. This method is safe and widely used in research to study brain function.
Participants will complete computer-based tasks while receiving either active brain stimulation or a placebo (sham) stimulation. The task is designed to engage specific mental processes so that the investigators can study how the brain responds under different conditions. Brain activity will be measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both while participants perform the tasks and while they are resting.
The study will compare healthy younger (ages 20-40) and older (ages 60-80) adults to explore whether age influences how the brain responds to stimulation. By examining patterns of brain activation and connectivity, the investigators aim to better understand how tDCS can modulate cognitive processing across the adult lifespan.
The hypothesis is that applying tDCS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex will change patterns of brain activity related to cognitive processing, and that these changes may differ between younger and older adults. This knowledge could help inform future research into brain stimulation techniques in different age groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS of the Left dlPFC | Experimental | Device: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Participants receive active anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during an information processing task for 22 minutes at 1 mA, with a gradual ramp-up and ramp-down of 30 seconds at the beginning and end of the stimulation. |
| Sham tDCS of the Left dlPFC | Sham comparator | Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Participants receive sham tDCS with the same setup and initial ramp-up of current to mimic the sensation of active stimulation. The current is turned off after the ramp-up period, and no further stimulation is delivered during the task. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Healthy younger adults (ages 20-40) or healthy older adults (ages 60-80)
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
- Right-handed (for consistency in brain stimulation)
- Able to give written informed consent and comply with study procedures
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- History of neurological or psychiatric disorders
- Current use of medications that affect the central nervous system
- Metal implants, pacemakers, or other contraindications for MRI or tDCS
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Pregnancy
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)High definition tDCS will be applied, using a Soterix Medical device and 4x1 ring electrodes. A centre ring electrode overlying the target cortical region (left dlPFC at position F3 according to the 10-20 system) will be surrounded by four return electrodes (position F1, FC3, F5, and AF3). | Device | Active tDCS of the Left dlPFC |
| Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)The same setup and device as in the active tDCS group will be used, but in this case stimulation will be turned off after a ramp-up phase of 30 seconds. This mimics the same sensory feeling as active tDCS. | Device | Sham tDCS of the Left dlPFC |
Primary outcome
Task Accuracy
Time frame: During the intervention
Accuracy in responses during an information processing task, measured as the proportion of correct responses.
Task-Related Brain Activation
Time frame: During the intervention
Changes in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal during the information processing task, measured using fMRI.
Resting-State Functional Connectivity
Time frame: Immediately before and after the intervention
Changes in functional connectivity between brain regions before and after stimulation, measured using resting-state fMRI.
1 secondary outcome
Task Reaction Time
Time frame: During the intervention
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 11 Sep 2025.
- 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.
Jessica Peter, Prof. principal investigator
UniversityClinics, University of Bern
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in people with Healthy, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
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 4 inclusion and 7 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Sep 2025. 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 Switzerland. 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?
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?
Contact Sarah Godehardt (+41 58 630 89 03, sarah.godehardt@unibe.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Task Accuracy (time frame: During the intervention). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 11 Sep 2025.