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Psychobiological Responses Following Exercise and Brain Stimulation

Who can join

Ages 18 to 50 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy adults
* aged 18 to 50
* consent and complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
* be free from any neurological or psychiatric disorder
* not be taking any medication that could affect the central nervous system
* not have any contraindication for HD-tDCS (i.e. not having metal implanted in the head, pacemaker, medical bumps, seizures, lesions on the scalp or head ) or for bioelectrical impedance (i.e., electronic medical implant, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and limb amputation)
* not be regular users of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco)
* not consume an average of more than ten alcoholic beverages per week

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals who do not meet the PAR-Q screening criteria for participation in moderate physical activity will be excluded from participating in this study
* women who are pregnant will be exclude from this study

About the study

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.

What is being tested

• 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 (other)

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University · Participants: 29 · Started: Mar 19, 2025

Contact the study team

• Edmund Acevedo · Phone: (804) 814-4355
• Monique Morton · Phone: 804-828-1948

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06874595

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.