TMS-EEGxercise: TMS-evoked Potentials During Aerobic Exercise

Sponsor
Aalborg University (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT06084455
Collaborator
(none)
30
1
1
26.5
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Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This study investigates the modification of the local-to-global connectivity pattern in response to a session of aerobic exercise. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be applied to elicit electroencephalography (EEG) responses in healthy volunteers. The TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) will be recorded and serve as a reflection of cortical reactivity and connectivity to TMS.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Other: Aerobic exercise
N/A

Detailed Description

Chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders rank second only to mental and behavioural disorders as a major contributor to worldwide years lived with disability. Chronic musculoskeletal pain restricts mobility, decreases cardiorespiratory capacity and musculoskeletal function, and ultimately reduces exercise capacity and quality of life. Thus, there is an urgent need for new, effective, and affordable strategies to address this growing problem, particularly in health systems around the world.

Abnormal brain connectivity patterns disrupt normal brain function in a specific neural network, causing brain circuit malfunctions and resulting in symptoms such as chronic pain. The advent of electroencephalography (EEG) compatible with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS-EEG) has allowed the measurement of the cortical excitability and connectivity of a single pulse of TMS in any scalp region, providing insights into cortical excitability and connectivity that were not previously possible with techniques exclusively based on MEP, create a map of activation caused by a localized pulse of stimulation. Furthermore, TMS-EEG allows recording the spread and the characteristics of the perturbations caused by a single TMS pulse across the cortex (recorded by several electrodes from an EEG cap). Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on brain functioning. Regular exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells and improves the survival of existing ones. Studies have shown that regular exercise improves cognitive function, memory, and mood, and exercise has been linked to increased production of neurotransmitters, hormones, and growth factors that promote brain health. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on brain excitability and connectivity.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
30 participants
Allocation:
N/A
Intervention Model:
Single Group Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Basic Science
Official Title:
The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Brain Connectivity
Anticipated Study Start Date :
Oct 15, 2023
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Dec 31, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Dec 31, 2025

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Aerobic exercise

30 minutes of aerobic exercise will be performed by the participants before and after cortical connectivity measurements.

Other: Aerobic exercise
30 minutes of aerobic exercise on a stationary bike

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Cortical connectivity [Cortical connectivity changes will be investigated before and after 30-min aerobic exercise (1 hour)]

    Global and local mean field amplitude

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Cortical excitability [Cortical excitability changes will be investigated before and after 30-min aerobic exercise (1 hour)]

    TMS-evoked potentials

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Healthy men and women

  • Speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs

  • Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses

  • Lack of ability to cooperate

  • History of chronic pain or current acute pain

  • Contraindications to rTMS application (history of epilepsy, metal in the head or jaw etc.).

  • Failure to pass the "TASS questionnaire" (TASS = Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Adult Safety Screen)

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Aalborg University Gistrup Nordjylland Denmark 9260

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Aalborg University

Investigators

None specified.

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Enrico De Martino, Dr, Aalborg University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT06084455
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • N-20210047-4
First Posted:
Oct 16, 2023
Last Update Posted:
Oct 16, 2023
Last Verified:
Oct 1, 2023
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Oct 16, 2023