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PFC tDCS for Cognitive Control and Attention

This study is looking at how Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) affects thinking skills like cognitive control (your ability to manage thoughts and actions) and attention in healthy adults. Researchers want to understand how tDCS, which uses a weak electrical current applied to the scalp, changes brain activity and performance on tasks. They will measure your behavior and brain waves (EEG) while you complete tasks like the Stroop Task. You may be able to join if you are between 18 and 50 years old, can understand English, and have no history of head trauma or certain medical conditions. The study aims to understand how the brain works and how tDCS might influence these processes.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 75 healthy participants. It uses Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as an intervention.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your cognitive control and attention will be measured through study completion, an average of 1 month.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04885322

Effects of PFC tDCS on Cognitive Control, Attention Lapses and Coordinated Neural Activity in the Theta and Alpha Bands

Recruiting
NAAges 18–50InterventionalBasic science
University of California, Davis
~75 participants
Updated 2025-12-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Behavioral Cognitive Control Measures on the Stroop Task
Measured over Through study completion, an average of 1 month
+8 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Healthy

Explore related trials

Healthy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
California1

Who to contact

Minhtrang Chu
[email protected]
1-916-734-1482
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

between ages of 18 and 50
ability to sufficiently speak and understand English so as to be able to understand and complete cognitive tasks
ability to give valid informed consent

Exclusion

no history of head trauma
no current or previous history of treatment with psychotropic medication
corrected vision 20/30 or better
tDCS/MRI contraindications, including: pregnancy, ferrous metal in any part of the body, serious medical conditions, claustrophobia, metallic implants, skin damage, conditions such as eczema at electrode sites, cranial pathologies

What this trial measures

  • Behavioral Cognitive Control Measures on the Stroop TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    Incongruent versus Congruent difference in error rate and reaction time

  • EEG Cognitive Control Measures on the Stroop TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    response-locked power in the theta frequency band (4-7 Hz)

  • Behavioral Attention Lapse Measures on the Stroop TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    Error Rate on Incorrect Congruent trials (Full Lapses) and Slow-but-Correct Congruent trials (Partial Lapses)

  • EEG Attention Lapse Measures on the Stroop Task EEG Attention Lapse Measures on the Stroop TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    Pre-trial power in the alpha frequency band (8-12 Hz)

  • Behavioral Cognitive Control Measures on the Change Detection Task Behavioral Cognitive Control Measures on the Change Detection TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    WM storage capacity (k-max)

  • EEG Cognitive Control Measures on the Change Detection TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    delay period power in the theta frequency band (4-7 Hz)

  • Behavioral Attention Lapse Measures on the Change Detection TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    Attention factor (a); Guess factor (g)

  • EEG Attention Lapse Measures on the Change Detection TaskThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    Pre-trial power in the alpha frequency band (8-12 Hz)

  • Delivered tDCS Dose to PFCThrough study completion, an average of 1 month

    Estimated electric field in PFC region of interest