Volunteers Needed: Brain Stimulation & Exercise Study
We are seeking volunteers for a study examining whether non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) influences how people experience perceptions of strain (i.e., effort, fatigue, discomfort, etc.) during exercise.
About the Study
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe, non-invasive technique that stimulates brain cells. This study investigates how tDCS may influence subjective experiences by delivering small electrical currents to the scalp and measuring strain perceptions before submaximal intensity cycling exercise.
Who Can Participate?
We are looking for healthy individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Between the ages of 18 and 40 years old with a BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m2
- Regularly exercise ≥150 min/wk of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
- No history or diagnosis of chronic illness
- No history or diagnosis of psychiatric or neurological disease
- No metal inside the head or body
- No injury that may impair ability to perform cycling exercise
- No use of prescription or recreational drugs that may impair ability to perceive sensations during exercise
- Not pregnant
- Able to exercise on a stationary bike
What Does the Study Involve?
The study involves four visits to the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. Each visit takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Visit 1: A brief test to determine how accurately you perceive your own heartbeats, and a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine your aerobic fitness (V̇O2max).
- Visits 2–4: A brief submaximal intensity cycling test consisting of four 5-minute intervals at different percentages of your V̇O2max. At each intensity, you will rate your perception of six different exercise strain perceptions. Each exercise test will be completed after 20 minutes of tDCS.
Physiological measurements will be obtained (e.g., heart rate, breathing, oxygen consumption, blood oxygen saturation, blood lactate concentrations). A series of brief questionnaires will also be completed as part of your participation in this study.
Compensation
$50 per visit attended
$200 upon completion of the study
Where?
Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, 100 Devonshire Pl., Toronto
Want to Learn More?
If you are interested in learning more about participating in the study, please fill out the brief eligibility survey below. If you are eligible to participate based on your responses, we will contact you using the information you provide with documentation of the study procedures to help you decide if you wish to participate.