Motor ActivityNCT07202702
Modulation of Motor Learning Via tDCS in a Dexterous Video Game Task
A study testing tDCS in people with Motor Activity, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether "transcranial direct current stimulation" (tDCS) is effective in enhancing learning of complex motor tasks of precision and accuracy that require the simultaneous coordination of both hands. The study will utilize a between-subjects, SHAM controlled design. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Motor Activity
- What is being tested?
- tDCS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 4 Apr 2025to 3 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
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 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Between ages 18 and 45 years old (to avoid any changes in the developing brain, or with aging).
- Answer 'no' to questions 2 through 16 on the tDCS checklist as these factors can increase likelihood of adverse events with tDCS
- No neurological damage, disease, or dysfunction (nerve damage, chronic pain disorders, diabetic neuropathy) that affect the upper limbs.
- No significant acute or chronic medical, neurologic, or illness in the patient that, in the judgment of the Principal Investigator, could compromise subject safety, limit the ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study
Who cannot join
- • Currently prescribed and taking stimulant medication (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, etc.)
- Consumption of over-the-counter stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine (coffee, soda, supplements, energy drinks, tobacco products, or other nicotine containing products such as gum, vape pens, etc...) 12 hours prior to entering the lab on the day of testing as this can directly affect cortical excitability. If a subject takes any of these substances 12 hours prior to session 1 they will be asked to reschedule for a later date.
- Have played a real stringed instrument in the last 12 months (e.g. guitar, bass, violin)
- Have played the videogame "Guitar Hero" on a traditional guitar controller in the last 12 months.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institute for Fitness and Sport
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202
About this study
The purpose of this study is to determine whether "transcranial direct current stimulation" (tDCS) is effective in enhancing learning of complex motor tasks of precision and accuracy that require the simultaneous coordination of both hands. The study will utilize a between-subjects, SHAM controlled design. Subjects will be randomly selected to receive either SHAM (n=26) or a-tDCS (n=26) stimulation and will be blinded to their condition throughout testing. Subjects will complete a total of two testing sessions, separated by ~24 hours. Both sessions will have the subject play the videogame "Guitar Hero", with a single song done for several trials as pre- and post-assessments. The first session will contain a 20-minute practice/stimulation block where subjects practice the guitar task while receiving either "active" or "inactive" stimulation of the motor cortex. The first session will last approximately 75 to 90 minutes whereas the second session will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
- Conditions
- Motor Activity
- Being tested
- tDCS
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
tDCSDevice
Applying tDCS to determine if it facilitates learning of a video game task
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| tDCS | Experimental | This group will receive 20 minutes of 1 mA tDCS stimulation to the motor cortex while playing the videogame. The total session duration will last approximately 30 minutes and there will be a 30 minutes retention session 24 hours later. Receives: Device: tDCS |
| SHAM | Placebo comparator | This group will receive 30 seconds of 1 mA tDCS stimulation to the motor cortex and then it will shut off, effectively serving as a control, while subjects play the videogame for 20 minutes. The total session duration will last approximately 30 minutes and there will be a 30 minutes retention session 24 hours later. Receives: Device: tDCS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Improvement in a Video Game
To determine whether a-tDCS influences motor skill acquisition of a dexterous video game task by measuring the outcome of videogame performance (number of notes played) with and without a-tDCS. The number of correct notes played is the outcome measure- where the greater the number, the better the outcome or performance. All subjects were expected to increase in performance, but the hypothesis was that the performance in the tDCS group would be greater than in sham.
Measured: 20 minutes- change in number of notes played t2-t1
Secondary outcomes (1)
Retention and Learning
Learning will be measured within-groups by examining retention, or the outcome of video game performance (number of notes played) between the first and second sessions. The number of notes successfully played, where more notes equated to improved outcomes or performance.
Measured: 24 hours difference in notes between t2-t1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Oct 2025
- Study start4 Apr 2025
- Primary completion3 Dec 2025
- Study completion3 Dec 2025
Why it stopped: Interim study results were not favorable to continue with further enrollment
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Motor ActivityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Indiana 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
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- experimental and control groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Indiana University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zachary Riley, Indiana University
- Investigators
- Zachary Riley, Principal investigator, Indiana University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07202702
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 26243
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Modulation of Motor Learning Via tDCS in a Dexterous Video Game Task
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07202702
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 26243
- Conditions
- Motor Activity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: Interim study results were not favorable to continue with further enrollment
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Indiana UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 3 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 3 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 22 Oct 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether "transcranial direct current stimulation" (tDCS) is effective in enhancing learning of complex motor tasks of precision and accuracy that require the simultaneous coordination of both hands. The study will utilize a between-subjects, SHAM controlled design. Subjects will be randomly selected to receive either SHAM (n=26) or a-tDCS (n=26) stimulation and will be blinded to their condition throughout testing. Subjects will complete a total of two testing sessions, separated by ~24 hours. Both sessions will have the subject play the videogame "Guitar Hero", with a single song done for several trials as pre- and post-assessments. The first session will contain a 20-minute practice/stimulation block where subjects practice the guitar task while receiving either "active" or "inactive" stimulation of the motor cortex. The first session will last approximately 75 to 90 minutes whereas the second session will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- experimental and control groups
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| tDCS | Experimental | Device: tDCSThis group will receive 20 minutes of 1 mA tDCS stimulation to the motor cortex while playing the videogame. The total session duration will last approximately 30 minutes and there will be a 30 minutes retention session 24 hours later. |
| SHAM | Placebo comparator | Device: tDCSThis group will receive 30 seconds of 1 mA tDCS stimulation to the motor cortex and then it will shut off, effectively serving as a control, while subjects play the videogame for 20 minutes. The total session duration will last approximately 30 minutes and there will be a 30 minutes retention session 24 hours later. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Between ages 18 and 45 years old (to avoid any changes in the developing brain, or with aging).
- Answer 'no' to questions 2 through 16 on the tDCS checklist as these factors can increase likelihood of adverse events with tDCS
- No neurological damage, disease, or dysfunction (nerve damage, chronic pain disorders, diabetic neuropathy) that affect the upper limbs.
- No significant acute or chronic medical, neurologic, or illness in the patient that, in the judgment of the Principal Investigator, could compromise subject safety, limit the ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- • Currently prescribed and taking stimulant medication (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, etc.)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| tDCSApplying tDCS to determine if it facilitates learning of a video game task | Device | SHAM, tDCS |
Primary outcome
Improvement in a Video Game
Time frame: 20 minutes- change in number of notes played t2-t1
To determine whether a-tDCS influences motor skill acquisition of a dexterous video game task by measuring the outcome of videogame performance (number of notes played) with and without a-tDCS. The number of correct notes played is the outcome measure- where the greater the number, the better the outcome or performance. All subjects were expected to increase in performance, but the hypothesis was that the performance in the tDCS group would be greater than in sham.
1 secondary outcome
Retention and Learning
Time frame: 24 hours difference in notes between t2-t1
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Oct 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- 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.
Zachary Riley principal investigator
Indiana 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 tDCS in people with Motor Activity, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.
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 4 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 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 United States. 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?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Oct 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
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?
Improvement in a Video Game (time frame: 20 minutes- change in number of notes played t2-t1). 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 22 Oct 2026.