Evaluating the effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on attentional resources/cognitive performance.
You have the chance to participate in a research study about the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on modulating cognitive performance. Continued time-on-task has been shown to produce drowsiness and fatigue, leading to performance deterioration. It has been proven that the application of a weak electrical current to an area of the brain can safely be used as a fatigue countermeasure to mitigate decrements in vigilance and enhance cognitive performance in various research settings.
In this study, we will collect various biological signals that measure nervous system activity over periods of stimulation. While collecting the physiological data, you will be asked to perform some computer-based cognitive tasks. You will be asked to come to the lab for three seperate visits. The first visit is 1.5 hours where you will come and practice the puzzles/tests we will be administering. The second and third visits ares both two hours long where you will formally complete the tests and recieve 30 minutes of either real and sham stimulation (one or the other for each visit).
Duration: Total: 4.5 hours. (Visit one: 1.5hrs, Visit two: 2hrs, Vist three: 2hrs)
Location: Arthur B. Bronwell Building, Storrs CT
Eligibility: Healthy and non-smoking adults, 18yrs or older without cardiorespiratory diseases.
Exclusion criteria: Individuals with pain, history of taking psychoactive substances (e.g. alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana), previous heart problems, chronic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder or history of physical abuse, pregnant, and anyone who is currently ill (common cold, upper respiratory infection, etc.). Subjects must abstain from drinking alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours before each study visit.
Compensation will be provided $150 for full compleition of the study.
For more information, contact: Riley McNaboe at riley.mcnaboe@uconn.edu