tDCSEXOPLASTICNCT07438808
Influence of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Sensorimotor Networks in Older Adults
A study testing Aerobic Exercise, Physical Inactivity and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with tDCS and Physical Activity + tDCS, run by Universite du Littoral Cote d'Opale at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on motor cortex neuroplasticity in older adults, both alone and in combination with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and to compare these effects with those observed in young adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- tDCS, Physical Activity + tDCS, Physical Inactivity + tDCS
- What is being tested?
- Aerobic Exercise, Physical Inactivity and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 66 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 4 Feb 2026to Jul 2026
- 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
- Men or women aged 20 to 35 for the younger group and 65 to 80 for the older group.
- Healthy right-handed or left-handed subjects.
- Subjects who have signed an informed consent form.
- Ability to understand spoken and written French to follow study procedures.
- Subjects affiliated with or beneficiaries of a social security system.
Who cannot join
- History of psychaitric disorders : individuals with mental retardation or severe impairment of cognitive, behavioral, or emotional functions that prevent them from understanding the protocol and signing the informed consent form.
- Neurological history (epilepsy, stroke, brain or spinal cord surgery, and history of neurological diseases affecting motor skills and sensitivity, such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's).
- Inability to give informed consent (e.g., dementia, significant hearing impairment, insufficient language proficiency).
- Contraindications to TMS and tDCS : uncontrolled epilepsy, intracranial metallic foreign body, hearing aid or cochlear implant, implanted stimulator or pump, scalp skin lesion, high intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid shunt).
- Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device.
- Use of psychotropic drugs.
Show all 9Show fewer
- Individuals under legal guardianship or curatorship.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Inability or recognized contraindication to physical activity.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Eurasport
Loos, Nord, 59120
Serge Berthoin, PhD, +33 3 74 00 82 02, serge.berthoin@univ-lille.fr
About this study
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on motor cortex neuroplasticity in older adults, both alone and in combination with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and to compare these effects with those observed in young adults.
Normal aging is associated with changes in the central nervous system that can affect motor function, sensorimotor integration, and cortical inhibitory mechanisms. These alterations may reduce the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, which is essential for motor learning and functional adaptation. Physical exercise has been proposed as a potential strategy to counteract age-related decline in neuroplasticity.
Read more
In this study, healthy young and older adults will participate in three experimental sessions. Participants will complete two experimental conditions in a randomized crossover design: (1) aerobic exercise followed by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and (2) physical inactivity followed by tDCS and a third session will assess the effects of exercise alone. Moderate aerobic exercise will consist of 20 minutes of cycling on an ergometer.
Corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuit function will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and after each intervention. Neuroplasticity will be evaluated by measuring changes in motor evoked potentials recorded from a hand muscle of the dominant side.
The primary objective is to determine whether aerobic exercise enhances tDCS-induced plasticity, and whether this enhancement differs between young and older adults. Secondary objectives include evaluating age-related differences in intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor integration processes.
By improving understanding of how exercise interacts with brain stimulation to modulate motor cortex plasticity, this study may help inform strategies aimed at preserving motor function and functional independence in aging populations.
Read the detailed description
Aging is associated with structural and functional changes in the central nervous system that may negatively impact motor control, postural stability, upper-limb coordination, and adaptive motor behavior. These functional alterations are partly attributed to changes in cortical excitability and reduced efficiency of intracortical inhibitory and sensorimotor circuits within the primary motor cortex (M1). Such modifications may contribute to a decline in neuroplasticity, defined as the capacity of the brain to reorganize in response to internal or external stimuli.
Neuroplasticity plays a critical role in motor learning and adaptation and is therefore essential for maintaining functional autonomy in older adults. Identifying interventions capable of enhancing or preserving neuroplasticity with aging represents an important clinical and societal challenge. Aerobic physical exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological strategy to modulate cortical excitability and promote neuroplasticity.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the effect of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity induced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in older adults, compared with young adults. The secondary objective is to examine the influence of exercise on intrinsic intracortical circuits and sensorimotor integration mechanisms within M1.
Study Design :
This is a monocentric exploratory study where each participant will complete three experimental sessions separated by at least one week :
Session 1 and Session 2 (randomized crossover design):
- Condition A : 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise followed by tDCS.
- Condition B : 20 minutes of seated rest followed by tDCS. The order of these two conditions will be randomized. Each participant serves as their own control.
Session 3:
- Assessment of the effects of aerobic exercise alone (without tDCS).
Experimental Procedures :
After providing written informed consent, participants undergo baseline assessments including questionnaires documenting physical activity level, handedness, and pain level.
Participants are comfortably seated, and surface electromyography (EMG) electrodes are placed over the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is delivered over M1 corresponding to the dominant hand representation. The optimal stimulation site (hotspot) and resting motor threshold (RMT) are determined.
Corticospinal excitability is assessed using single-pulse TMS at increasing intensities to construct input-output (I/O) recruitment curves. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded from the APB muscle. A Boltzmann sigmoidal function is used to model I/O curves and extract parameters including slope, plateau, and S50. The primary outcome measure is the slope of the I/O curve, reflecting corticospinal recruitment gain.
Neuroplasticity is evaluated by comparing corticospinal excitability before and after a 20-minute session of anodal tDCS applied over the dominant M1 (2 mA). Changes in I/O curve parameters after tDCS, with or without prior physical exercise, serve as indicators of induced plasticity.
Intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms are assessed using paired-pulse TMS protocols :
- Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI)
- Intracortical facilitation (ICF)
- Long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI)
Sensorimotor integration is evaluated using paired peripheral nerve stimulation (median nerve at the wrist) combined with TMS to measure :
- Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI)
- Long-latency afferent inhibition (LAI)
- Afferent-induced facilitation (AIF) Outcome measures are expressed as ratios of conditioned to unconditioned MEP amplitudes.
Aerobic Exercise Intervention :
Moderate aerobic exercise consists of 20 minutes of cycling on an ergometer at 60 to 70 revolutions per minute. Exercise intensity is individualized to correspond to approximately 50% of heart rate reserve (moderate intensity), monitored throughout the session.
The estimated duration of each experimental session is as follows :
- Session 1 (2h05) : Information, consent, and questionnaires (10 minutes), electrode placement (5 minutes), baseline recordings (35 minutes), 20 minutes of aerobic exercise or seated rest (randomized), 20 minutes of tDCS, and 35 minutes of post-intervention recordings.
- Session 2 (1h05) : Same procedure as Session 1 without information, consent, or questionnaires. Participants complete the alternate condition (exercise or rest), followed by tDCS and post-intervention recordings.
- Session 3 (1h35) : Preparation (5 minutes), baseline recordings (35 minutes), 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, and 35 minutes of post-exercise recordings.
- Conditions
- tDCS, Physical Activity + tDCS, Physical Inactivity + tDCS
- Being tested
- Aerobic Exercise, Physical Inactivity, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation
- Keywords
- tDCS, Corticospinal Excitability, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Physical Exercise, Aerobic Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity, Sedentary Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Aerobic ExerciseBehavioural
Participants perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence between 60 and 70 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Physical InactivityBehavioural
Participants remain seated for 20 minutes while watching a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration.
Transcranial Magnetic StimulationDevice
Single- and paired-pulse TMS is applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) to assess corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor circuit function. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand.
transcranial direct current stimulationDevice
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is delivered for 20 minutes over the primary motor cortex (M1) at a current intensity of 2mA.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Activity + tDCS | Experimental | Participants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
They then perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Immediately after exercise, participants receive 20 minutes of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1).
Post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following the combined aerobic exercise and anodal tDCS intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise; Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Device: transcranial direct current stimulation |
| Physical Inactivity + tDCS | Experimental | Participants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then remain seated for 20 minutes and watch a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration. This condition is designed to provide a standardized and controlled resting period comparable across participants.
Immediately after, participants receive 20 minutes of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1).
Post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following the combined physical inactivity and anodal tDCS intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Physical Inactivity; Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Device: transcranial direct current stimulation |
| Physical Activity | Experimental | Participants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). Immediately after exercise, post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following aerobic exercise alone. Receives: Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise; Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Corticospinal excitability
Corticospinal excitability will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to the primary motor cortex. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded using surface electromyography from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand. Single pulses of increasing intensity will be delivered to establish an input-output (I/O) recruitment curve. The stimulation intensity will be increased in steps of 3 to 5%, and 10 stimuli will be delivered per stimulation intensity. I/O curves will be fitted using a Boltzmann sigmoid function. Three parameters will be derived : slope, plateau and S50. These parameters will be compared across experimental conditions. The primary outcome will be the slope of the I/O curve, reflecting the recruitment rate of neurons in the corticospinal tract, indicating the level of corticospinal excitability.
Measured: Assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention during each of the three experimental sessions (aerobic exercise + tDCS, physical inactivity + tDCS and aerobic exercise alone).
Secondary outcomes (1)
Intracortical and sensorimotor circuits of M1
Sensorimotor circuits of the primary motor cortex (M1) will be assessed using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied over the M1 controlling the dominant hand.
Short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition and facilitation (SICI, ICF, LICI) : A subthreshold conditioning stimulus (80% RMT) will precede a suprathreshold test stimulus (1mV MEP) at specific interstimulus intervals to quantify intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory processes. Outcome measures are expressed as the ratio of conditioned to unconditioned MEP amplitude.
Sensorimotor afferent circuits (SAI, LAI, AIF) : Electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist (SC) will precede TMS over M1 (ST) at defined intervals to evaluate afferent-mediated inhibition or facilitation. Outcome measures are the ratio of conditioned to unconditioned MEP amplitude.
Measured: Baseline and post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Feb 2026
- Study start4 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for tDCSStudies 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
- Crossover
- Model description
- Participants will complete three experimental sessions separated by at least one week. The order of the first two sessions (Physical Exercise + tDCS and Physical Inactivity + tDCS) will be randomized in a crossover manner. The third session will consist of an exercise-only condition identical for all participants.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universite du Littoral Cote d'Opale
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07438808
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-A01291-48
- Acronym
- EXOPLASTIC
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Feb 2026
- 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 27 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Influence of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Sensorimotor Networks in Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07438808
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EXOPLASTIC / 2025-A01291-48
- Conditions
- tDCS, Physical Activity + tDCS, Physical Inactivity + tDCS
- Keywords
- tDCS, Corticospinal Excitability, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Physical Exercise, Aerobic Exercise
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universite du Littoral Cote d'OpaleUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Feb 2026 (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 purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on motor cortex neuroplasticity in older adults, both alone and in combination with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and to compare these effects with those observed in young adults.
Normal aging is associated with changes in the central nervous system that can affect motor function, sensorimotor integration, and cortical inhibitory mechanisms. These alterations may reduce the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, which is essential for motor learning and functional adaptation. Physical exercise has been proposed as a potential strategy to counteract age-related decline in neuroplasticity.
In this study, healthy young and older adults will participate in three experimental sessions. Participants will complete two experimental conditions in a randomized crossover design: (1) aerobic exercise followed by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and (2) physical inactivity followed by tDCS and a third session will assess the effects of exercise alone. Moderate aerobic exercise will consist of 20 minutes of cycling on an ergometer.
Corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuit function will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) before and after each intervention. Neuroplasticity will be evaluated by measuring changes in motor evoked potentials recorded from a hand muscle of the dominant side.
The primary objective is to determine whether aerobic exercise enhances tDCS-induced plasticity, and whether this enhancement differs between young and older adults. Secondary objectives include evaluating age-related differences in intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor integration processes.
By improving understanding of how exercise interacts with brain stimulation to modulate motor cortex plasticity, this study may help inform strategies aimed at preserving motor function and functional independence in aging populations.
Detailed description
Aging is associated with structural and functional changes in the central nervous system that may negatively impact motor control, postural stability, upper-limb coordination, and adaptive motor behavior. These functional alterations are partly attributed to changes in cortical excitability and reduced efficiency of intracortical inhibitory and sensorimotor circuits within the primary motor cortex (M1). Such modifications may contribute to a decline in neuroplasticity, defined as the capacity of the brain to reorganize in response to internal or external stimuli.
Neuroplasticity plays a critical role in motor learning and adaptation and is therefore essential for maintaining functional autonomy in older adults. Identifying interventions capable of enhancing or preserving neuroplasticity with aging represents an important clinical and societal challenge. Aerobic physical exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological strategy to modulate cortical excitability and promote neuroplasticity.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the effect of a single session of moderate aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity induced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in older adults, compared with young adults. The secondary objective is to examine the influence of exercise on intrinsic intracortical circuits and sensorimotor integration mechanisms within M1.
Study Design :
This is a monocentric exploratory study where each participant will complete three experimental sessions separated by at least one week :
Session 1 and Session 2 (randomized crossover design):
- Condition A : 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise followed by tDCS.
- Condition B : 20 minutes of seated rest followed by tDCS. The order of these two conditions will be randomized. Each participant serves as their own control.
Session 3:
- Assessment of the effects of aerobic exercise alone (without tDCS).
Experimental Procedures :
After providing written informed consent, participants undergo baseline assessments including questionnaires documenting physical activity level, handedness, and pain level.
Participants are comfortably seated, and surface electromyography (EMG) electrodes are placed over the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is delivered over M1 corresponding to the dominant hand representation. The optimal stimulation site (hotspot) and resting motor threshold (RMT) are determined.
Corticospinal excitability is assessed using single-pulse TMS at increasing intensities to construct input-output (I/O) recruitment curves. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded from the APB muscle. A Boltzmann sigmoidal function is used to model I/O curves and extract parameters including slope, plateau, and S50. The primary outcome measure is the slope of the I/O curve, reflecting corticospinal recruitment gain.
Neuroplasticity is evaluated by comparing corticospinal excitability before and after a 20-minute session of anodal tDCS applied over the dominant M1 (2 mA). Changes in I/O curve parameters after tDCS, with or without prior physical exercise, serve as indicators of induced plasticity.
Intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms are assessed using paired-pulse TMS protocols :
- Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI)
- Intracortical facilitation (ICF)
- Long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI)
Sensorimotor integration is evaluated using paired peripheral nerve stimulation (median nerve at the wrist) combined with TMS to measure :
- Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI)
- Long-latency afferent inhibition (LAI)
- Afferent-induced facilitation (AIF) Outcome measures are expressed as ratios of conditioned to unconditioned MEP amplitudes.
Aerobic Exercise Intervention :
Moderate aerobic exercise consists of 20 minutes of cycling on an ergometer at 60 to 70 revolutions per minute. Exercise intensity is individualized to correspond to approximately 50% of heart rate reserve (moderate intensity), monitored throughout the session.
The estimated duration of each experimental session is as follows :
- Session 1 (2h05) : Information, consent, and questionnaires (10 minutes), electrode placement (5 minutes), baseline recordings (35 minutes), 20 minutes of aerobic exercise or seated rest (randomized), 20 minutes of tDCS, and 35 minutes of post-intervention recordings.
- Session 2 (1h05) : Same procedure as Session 1 without information, consent, or questionnaires. Participants complete the alternate condition (exercise or rest), followed by tDCS and post-intervention recordings.
- Session 3 (1h35) : Preparation (5 minutes), baseline recordings (35 minutes), 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, and 35 minutes of post-exercise recordings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants will complete three experimental sessions separated by at least one week. The order of the first two sessions (Physical Exercise + tDCS and Physical Inactivity + tDCS) will be randomized in a crossover manner. The third session will consist of an exercise-only condition identical for all participants.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Activity + tDCS | Experimental | Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise, Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Device: transcranial direct current stimulationParticipants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). Immediately after exercise, participants receive 20 minutes of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1). Post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following the combined aerobic exercise and anodal tDCS intervention. |
| Physical Inactivity + tDCS | Experimental | Behavioral: Physical Inactivity, Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Device: transcranial direct current stimulationParticipants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then remain seated for 20 minutes and watch a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration. This condition is designed to provide a standardized and controlled resting period comparable across participants. Immediately after, participants receive 20 minutes of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1). Post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following the combined physical inactivity and anodal tDCS intervention. |
| Physical Activity | Experimental | Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise, Device: Transcranial Magnetic StimulationParticipants undergo baseline assessments of corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They then perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). Immediately after exercise, post-intervention TMS assessments are conducted using the same single- and paired-pulse paradigms to evaluate changes in corticospinal excitability and intracortical and sensorimotor circuits following aerobic exercise alone. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Men or women aged 20 to 35 for the younger group and 65 to 80 for the older group.
- Healthy right-handed or left-handed subjects.
- Subjects who have signed an informed consent form.
- Ability to understand spoken and written French to follow study procedures.
- Subjects affiliated with or beneficiaries of a social security system.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- History of psychaitric disorders : individuals with mental retardation or severe impairment of cognitive, behavioral, or emotional functions that prevent them from understanding the protocol and signing the informed consent form.
- Neurological history (epilepsy, stroke, brain or spinal cord surgery, and history of neurological diseases affecting motor skills and sensitivity, such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's).
- Inability to give informed consent (e.g., dementia, significant hearing impairment, insufficient language proficiency).
- Contraindications to TMS and tDCS : uncontrolled epilepsy, intracranial metallic foreign body, hearing aid or cochlear implant, implanted stimulator or pump, scalp skin lesion, high intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid shunt).
- Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic ExerciseParticipants perform 20 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling on a cycle ergometer at 50% of heart rate reserve, maintaining a cadence between 60 and 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). | Behavioural | Physical Activity, Physical Activity + tDCS |
| Physical InactivityParticipants remain seated for 20 minutes while watching a silent video of natural waterfall scenes without narration. | Behavioural | Physical Inactivity + tDCS |
| Transcranial Magnetic StimulationSingle- and paired-pulse TMS is applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) to assess corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory mechanisms and sensorimotor circuit function. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand. | Device | Physical Activity, Physical Activity + tDCS, Physical Inactivity + tDCS |
| transcranial direct current stimulationAnodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is delivered for 20 minutes over the primary motor cortex (M1) at a current intensity of 2mA. | Device | Physical Activity + tDCS, Physical Inactivity + tDCS |
Primary outcome
Corticospinal excitability
Time frame: Assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention during each of the three experimental sessions (aerobic exercise + tDCS, physical inactivity + tDCS and aerobic exercise alone).
Corticospinal excitability will be assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to the primary motor cortex. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are recorded using surface electromyography from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle of the dominant hand. Single pulses of increasing intensity will be delivered to establish an input-output (I/O) recruitment curve. The stimulation intensity will be increased in steps of 3 to 5%, and 10 stimuli will be delivered per stimulation intensity. I/O curves will be fitted using a Boltzmann sigmoid function. Three parameters will be derived : slope, plateau and S50. These parameters will be compared across experimental conditions. The primary outcome will be the slope of the I/O curve, reflecting the recruitment rate of neurons in the corticospinal tract, indicating the level of corticospinal excitability.
1 secondary outcome
Intracortical and sensorimotor circuits of M1
Time frame: Baseline and post-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 27 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for tDCS
Recruiting
Additional Effects on tDCS With AOT on Lower Limb Functions on Children With Diplegic CP
Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Active, not recruiting
Improving Visual Field Deficits With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation
Visual Field Defect, Peripheral, Stroke
Enrolling by invitation
Brain Stimulation Paired With Structured Reading Instruction in Children With Dyslexia
Dyslexia, Reading Disability
Recruiting
Cumulative and Booster Effects of Multisession Prefrontal tDCS in ASD Adolescents
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Enrolling by invitation
Brain Stimulation Paired With Structured Language Learning in Adults
Language Development, Learning
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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Aerobic Exercise, Physical Inactivity and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in people with tDCS and Physical Activity + tDCS, run by Universite du Littoral Cote d'Opale at 1 site in France.
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 5 inclusion and 9 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 27 Feb 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 France. 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. 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 Hervé Devanne, Pr (+33 6 76 32 12 84, herve.devanne@univ-littoral.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Corticospinal excitability (time frame: Assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention during each of the three experimental sessions (aerobic exercise + tDCS, physical inactivity + tDCS and aerobic exercise alone).). 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 27 Feb 2026.