Neural Mechanisms of the Contextual Interference Effect: A fNIRs and EEG Study

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy Individuals; Learning
• Interventions: Behavioral: Practice Order

• Registration Number: NCT01134978
• Lead Sponsor: Drexel University

Brief Summary

The overall goal of this study is to gain insight into the neural mechanisms of learning multiple tasks. By examination of cognitive and behavioral output during the performance and learning of several computer maze tasks, and through a detailed examination of the neural activity obtained from functional near-infrared (fNIR) and electroencephalography (EEG), it may be possible to gain insight into the impact of the amount of practice and the organization of practice has on learning fine motor skills. This insight may provide direction as to how to better develop instructional and rehabilitation protocols in addition to clinical interventions to facilitate recovery of function, relearning and transfer of cognitive and fine motor skills based upon neural responses to physical practice.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-11
• Study First Submitted: 2010-05-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-06-01
• Study First Posted: 2010-06-02
• Primary Completion: 2010-12
• Status Verified: 2011-05
• Study Completion: 2011-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-11-04
• Last Update Posted: 2011-11-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 to 55 years of age
• vision correctable to 20/20
• right-handed
• English is first language or learned English before age of 5 years

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Exclusion Criteria

• 17 years or younger and 56 years or older
• pregnant
• have latex or tape adhesives allergies
• self-exclude if:
• had a history of seizures, head injury or neurological dysfunction
• history or diagnosis of depression, schizophrenia or social phobia
• previous admission to alcohol/drug treatment program or diagnosis of alcohol/drug abuse
• take medications know to affect neurological function.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Practice Schedules	Practice Order	Subjects are randomly assigned to either a blocked or random practice schedule when learning three 3-D computer mazes. A blocked practice schedule is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order, while a random practice schedule has tasks presented in a nonsequential, unpredictable order. Neural activity and behavioral measures will differ for the two practice schedules. For memory and transfer, it is predicted that random practice will be better than blocked practice.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
metabolic measures of neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex	outcomes measured 72 - 96 hours post-training	Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) uses specific wavelets of light, that are introduced at the scalp to measure changes in the relative ratios of deoxygenated hemoglobin and oxygenated hemoglobin in the capillary beds during brain activity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Behavioral measures	measured 72-96 hours post training	maze behavioral responses of time to traverse the maze (sec), distance traveled (pixels)and average maze velocity (pixels/sec) are calculated.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cognitive Motor Movement Neuroscience Lab (CoMMoNS) - rm 3612 NCB, Drexel University; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States