Traumatic Brain Injury Research Study
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center are partnering with individuals who have had a traumatic brain injury to evaluate how treatment with tDCS can help. Join our compensated study today!
Fast Facts
TBI more than 1 year ago
cognitive or word finding problems
18-85 years old
Conducted in dallas, TX
Study Background
This is an exploratory study being done to attempt to improve word finding and working memory problems that sometimes occur in people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Major requirements of this study include that the participant has had a TBI, is between the ages of 18 and 85, and is fluent in speaking and reading English.
This study will use low level electric stimulation (called transcranial Direct Current Stimulation or tDCS) on the part of your brain thought to aid in memory retrieval (the pre-Supplementary Motor Area or pre-SMA).
You will be participating in two phases where you will be given tests before and after the 10 sessions of tDCS (occurring once a day for about 20 minutes over 10 days). These tests will help determine the effect of tDCS on the pre-SMA.
There is minimal risk associated with participating in this study. Overall, tDCS has been found to be a safe, well-tolerated device. Potential benefits for participating in this study are that you will be contributing to the development of a non-pharmacological method to treat word finding and memory problems in others with a TBI. It is possible you may also see some improvement in your own word finding and memory problems.
Help advance research today and join our compensated study!
Study Background
This is an exploratory study being done to attempt to improve word finding and working memory problems that sometimes occur in people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Major requirements of this study include that the participant has had a TBI, is between the ages of 18 and 85, and is fluent in speaking and reading English.
This study will use low level electric stimulation (called transcranial Direct Current Stimulation or tDCS) on the part of your brain thought to aid in memory retrieval (the pre-Supplementary Motor Area or pre-SMA).
You will be participating in two phases where you will be given tests before and after the 10 sessions of tDCS (occurring once a day for about 20 minutes over 10 days). These tests will help determine the effect of tDCS on the pre-SMA.
There is minimal risk associated with participating in this study. Overall, tDCS has been found to be a safe, well-tolerated device. Potential benefits for participating in this study are that you will be contributing to the development of a non-pharmacological method to treat word finding and memory problems in others with a TBI. It is possible you may also see some improvement in your own word finding and memory problems.
Help advance research today and join our compensated study!
Additional Information
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Key Criteria:
- 18-85 years old
- Traumatic brain injury at least one year ago
- Experiencing cognitive or memory decline since injury
- Can be left alone for at least 8 hours
- Able to give consent
- No history of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- No hospitalization from psychiatric conditions in the past year
- No history of seizures within 1 year
- No electronic implant (e.g., vagal nerve stimulator, DBS, defibrillator)
- No metallic objects or surgical implants near the skull
- No pregnancy
- English speaker
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either real (active) or fake (sham) stimulation. The tDCS sessions last for about 30 minutes, regardless of whether they are real or sham sessions, and the sessions are scheduled 5 days a week over 2 weeks.
There are two phases to the study with 10 sessions per phase. All participants will go through both phase 1 and phase 2. Depending on your random assignment, you will either receive active first and then sham, or sham first and then active conditions.
There also are several data collection sessions in the study that last approximately 3 to 3 and half hours. We will do neuropsychological testing to assess memory, cognitive, and emotional levels, and electroencephalography testing (EEG testing) to measure brain activity.
There is a baseline session, two sessions within each treatment phase, one testing session immediately after treatment/sham, and then another testing session 8-weeks after treatment. At baseline, we may also perform a brain scan (MRI). Your total participation lasts about 4-5 months.
