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Non-invasive Nerve Stimulation and Cognitive Training to Improve Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults
Sponsor: University of Florida
Summary
Decline in brain health and associated loss of cognitive function in healthy aging decreases quality of life.We need better tools to both enhance brain health and improve cognitive performance in healthy brain aging so that it can be delayed, reduced, or even reversed. The present proposal is designed to evaluate the pairing of cognitive training with a non-invasive neurostimulation technology that has shown promise in both increasing neuroplasticity and in enhancing cognitive performance, transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS).
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
65 Years - 90 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
45
Start Date
2020-11-17
Completion Date
2024-09-27
Last Updated
2026-07-27
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS)
The active tVNS group will receive non-invasive stimulation provided by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device at 2x sensory threshold (25Hz, 200 μs pulse width) using electrodes placed at the left tragus. The sham group will receive sham stimulation (0x sensory threshold) using electrodes placed on the left earlobe.
Cognitive training
Cognitive training will be delivered for one hour daily over a two-week period via a web-based program (Posit Science BrainHQ, accessed through www.positscience.com) containing eight adaptive tasks targeting attention, processing speed, and working memory. Participants will complete four randomly selected tasks per hour of training.
Locations (2)
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, United States
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States