The aim of this study is to assess whether the application of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) enhances and prolongs the learning enhancement achieved by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS). For this, young and older healthy subjects will be tested with a well established learning paradigm. Results of this study may help to support the application of atDCS also in patients, e.g. with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

NCT02092974

Conditions

1. Healthy Young and Older Adults

Interventions

1. Procedure: tDCS
2. Drug: Citalopram
3. Other: sham-tDCS + placebo

To assess predictors of SSRI-enhanced brain stimulation, genotyping of several learning related polymorphisms will be performed (i.e., APOE, BDNF, Val66Met, COMT, Val158Met, KIBRA, rs17070145, 5-Hydroxytryptamine transporter).. Inclusion Criteria: - right handedness - unobtrusive neuropsychological screening - ability to provide written informed consent - no pathological findings in head MRI - age: 18 to 35 years (young adults) or 50-80 years (older adults) - Highly effective contraception (Pearl Index < 1) or reliable abstinence from any heterosexual relationships in women of childbearing potential Exclusion Criteria: - severe internal or psychiatric disease (especially depression or suicidal thoughts) - epilepsy - cognitive impairment (< SD under age adjusted norm in neuropsychological testing) - concurrent taking of serotonin precursors (tryptophan, 5-HTP) or MAO inhibitors - concurrent taking of tramadol or triptans - concurrent taking of pimozide or linezolid - concurrent taking of other drugs prolonging the QT-interval - long-QT-syndrome - hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia - known intolerance of the study medication - claustrophobia or metallic implants, tattoos (MRI exclusion criteria) - pregnancy or lactation - participation in another drug-interventional clinical trial within the last month or during the entire study - probands that are placed in an institution due to official or judicial order - non-agreement to save and transmit pseudonymised study data within the clinical trial Inclusion Criteria: - right handedness - unobtrusive neuropsychological screening - ability to provide written informed consent - no pathological findings in head MRI - age: 18 to 35 years (young adults) or 50-80 years (older adults) - Highly effective contraception (Pearl Index < 1) or reliable abstinence from any heterosexual relationships in women of childbearing potential Exclusion Criteria: - severe internal or psychiatric disease (especially depression or suicidal thoughts) - epilepsy - cognitive impairment (< SD under age adjusted norm in neuropsychological testing) - concurrent taking of serotonin precursors (tryptophan, 5-HTP) or MAO inhibitors - concurrent taking of tramadol or triptans - concurrent taking of pimozide or linezolid - concurrent taking of other drugs prolonging the QT-interval - long-QT-syndrome - hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia - known intolerance of the study medication - claustrophobia or metallic implants, tattoos (MRI exclusion criteria) - pregnancy or lactation - participation in another drug-interventional clinical trial within the last month or during the entire study - probands that are placed in an institution due to official or judicial order - non-agreement to save and transmit pseudonymised study data within the clinical trial Healthy Young and Older Adults null