Psychobiological Responses Following Exercise and Brain Stimulation

Study Summary

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health diagnosis in the US; 19.1% of U.S. adults (23.4% for females and 14.3% for males). In addition, the Global Burden of Disease study (2010) found that anxiety disorders were the sixth leading cause of disability (years of life lived with disability). These debilitating disorders are characterized by excessive worry and fear about everyday situations, and physical symptoms including restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbance. Furthermore, anxiety is linked to other mental disorders including depression and substance abuse; is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors and a higher rate of cardiovascular disease; and is related to premature mortality. These data have led to the investigation of a breadth of plausible treatments for anxiety, including medications and psychotherapy. However, likely due to the breadth of complex mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders and the unfavorable side effects of various medications, a considerable number of individuals do not have a satisfactory response to these treatments. This has led investigators to examine plausible novel interventions to alleviate anxiety and its symptoms.

Primary Outcome

Physical activity prior to HD-tDCS will enhance the anxiolytic effects beyond the benefits of physical activity alone and HD-tDCS alone. Thus, demonstrating a priming effect of PA on the anxiety alleviating electrical pathways that HD-tDCS activates at subthreshold level. Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-Anxiety; rating from 0 = "not at all anxious" to 100 = "the most anxious I have ever felt") and three other scales assessing tingling, stiffness and numbness will be administered with a simi

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• OTHER Cycling exercise at 65% of HRR for 20 minutes followed by HD-tDCS (exercise + HD-tDCS)
• OTHER Cycling exercise at 65% of HRR exercise followed by sham HD-tDCS (exercise + sham tDCS)
• OTHER No exercise followed by HD-tDCS (no exercise + HD-tDCS).
• OTHER State Anxiety Inventory
• OTHER Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety

Study Locations (1)