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Blinding of transcranial direct current stimulation is compromised in typically-developing children compared to young adults
  • Sophia Bertrand,
  • Tonya Rich,
  • Samuel Nemanich
Sophia Bertrand
Marquette University
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Tonya Rich
Minneapolis VAHCS
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Samuel Nemanich
Marquette University

Corresponding Author:sam.nemanich@marquette.edu

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Abstract

Achieving successful blinding is a persistent challenge for clinical trials involving transcranial direct current stimulation. Studies involving populations with increased sensory sensitivity, such as children, could be at risk for increased bias from inadequate blinding due to unique sensation of stimulation relative to adults. The objectives of this study were 1) To examine differences in transcranial stimulation blinding between children and young adults and its relationship to sensory sensitivity. 2) To test the efficacy of an ActiSham protocol for participant blinding, compared to a traditional sham protocol. Typically developing right-handed children (N=11, 5-14 yr) and young adults (N=14, 15-25 yr) completed a single-session study to test transcranial stimulation blinding after three conditions counterbalanced across participants: Active, Sham, and ActiSham. Stimulation was paired with a motor learning task to simulate a combinatory neurorehabilitation intervention. After each condition, participants reported if they received real or fake stimulation and their response confidence. To quantify sensory sensitivity, participants completed the Sensory Profile (2nd edition). Compared to a chance level, 1) children and young adults correctly identified Active stimulation, 2) children incorrectly identified Sham and ActiSham stimulation, 3) young adults identified Sham and ActiSham stimulation at chance-level. Blinding accuracy was not related to sensory sensitivity. Children report stimulation as real stimulation with higher confidence for almost all conditions, indicating unsuccessful blinding compared to young adults. Future studies should consider alternative sham protocols or methods to improve blinding in child participants.
Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience
Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Jul 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
19 Sep 20241st Revision Received
21 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
21 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
21 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept