Speech Motor Learning and Retention (Aim 2)

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Speech
• Interventions: Behavioral: Adaptation baseline; Behavioral: Adaptation; Device: Auditory evoked potentials; Device: Somatosensory evoked potentials; Device: Motor evoked potentials

• Registration Number: NCT06491823
• Lead Sponsor: Yale University

Brief Summary

The overall goal of this research is to test a new model of speech motor learning, whose central hypothesis is that learning and retention are associated with plasticity not only in motor areas of the brain but in auditory and somatosensory regions as well. The strategy for the proposed research is to identify individual brain areas that contribute causally to retention by disrupting their activity with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Investigators will also use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which will enable identification of circuit-level activity which predicts either learning or retention of new movements, and hence test the specific contributions of candidate sensory and motor zones. In other studies, investigators will record sensory and motor evoked potentials over the course of learning to determine the temporal order in which individual sensory and cortical motor regions contribute. The goal here is to identify brain areas in which learning-related plasticity occurs first and which among these areas predict subsequent learning.

Detailed Description

The focus of this registration is Aim 2. Specific Aim 2 assesses the temporal order in which plasticity occurs in cortical motor and sensory brain areas during speech motor learning. Plasticity is assessed using measures of cortical excitability. Specifically, auditory, somatosensory and motor evoked potentials are elicited using single pulse TMS (motor), pure tone bursts (auditory), and mentalis nerve stimulation (somatosensory). Tests of cortical excitability are interleaved with trials involving speech motor adaptation. Cortical excitability is also measured using these same measures 24 hours after learning to assess retention.

The Speech Motor Learning and Retention Master Protocol is NCT06467292.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-06-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-07-03
• Study First Posted: 2024-07-09
• Study Start: 2024-10-01
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-10
• Primary Completion: 2027-07
• Study Completion: 2027-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

• Fluent English speakers
• Right-handed
• Normal hearing
• No speech disorder or reading disability

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Exclusion Criteria

• Cardiac pacemaker
• Aneurysm clip
• Heart or Vascular clip
• Prosthetic valve
• Metal implants
• Metal in brain, skull, or spinal cord
• Implanted neurostimulator
• Medication infusion device
• Cochlear implant or tinnitus (ringing in ears)
• Personal and/or family history of epilepsy or other neurological disorders or history of head concussion
• Psychoactive medications
• Pregnancy

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
AEPs (A1) / altered auditory feedback / AEPs + retention tests at 24h	Auditory evoked potentials	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area A1 (auditory cortex) in combination with a speech motor learning procedure known as adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
MEPs (M1) / unaltered auditory feedback / MEPs + retention tests at 24h	Adaptation baseline	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area M1 (motor cortex) in combination with unaltered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
AEPs (A1) / unaltered auditory feedback / AEPs + retention tests at 24h	Adaptation baseline	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area A1 (auditory cortex) in combination with unaltered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
SEPs (S1) / unaltered auditory feedback / SEPs + retention tests at 24h	Adaptation baseline	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area S1 (somatosensory cortex) in combination with unaltered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
AEPs (A1) / unaltered auditory feedback / AEPs + retention tests at 24h	Auditory evoked potentials	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area A1 (auditory cortex) in combination with unaltered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
AEPs (A1) / altered auditory feedback / AEPs + retention tests at 24h	Adaptation	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area A1 (auditory cortex) in combination with a speech motor learning procedure known as adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
SEPs (S1) / unaltered auditory feedback / SEPs + retention tests at 24h	Somatosensory evoked potentials	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area S1 (somatosensory cortex) in combination with unaltered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
MEPs (M1) / altered auditory feedback / MEPs + retention tests at 24h	Adaptation	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area M1 (motor cortex) in combination with a speech motor learning procedure known as adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
MEPs (M1) / altered auditory feedback / MEPs + retention tests at 24h	Motor evoked potentials	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area M1 (motor cortex) in combination with a speech motor learning procedure known as adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
SEPs (S1) / altered auditory feedback / SEPs + retention tests at 24h	Adaptation	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area S1 (somatosensory cortex) in combination with a speech motor learning procedure known as adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
SEPs (S1) / altered auditory feedback / SEPs + retention tests at 24h	Somatosensory evoked potentials	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area S1 (somatosensory cortex) in combination with a speech motor learning procedure known as adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.
MEPs (M1) / unaltered auditory feedback / MEPs + retention tests at 24h	Motor evoked potentials	Evoked potentials will be recorded from brain area M1 (motor cortex) in combination with unaltered auditory feedback. Retention of learning will be tested 24h later along with additional evoked potential recordings.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Retention of learning	24 hours after learning (re-test lasts 30 minutes)	The retention of adaptation to altered auditory feedback (and relearning) will be quantified in terms of F1 and F2 frequency shifts (relative to pre-training baseline). Larger values indicate more complete relearning or retention.
Speech motor learning	Performance as measured at the end of learning (30 minute session)	Audapter software will be used to alter the first and second formant frequencies of the spoken words and this is played back to subjects through headphones. Subjects will be tested both with unaltered feedback and with abruptly introduced frequency shifts.The change in the first (F1) and second format frequency (F2) values will be assessed using Praat.
Motor evoked potentials (MEPs)	Performance as measured at the end of learning (30 minute session)	Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) using single-pulse TMS will be recorded using surface electromyography (EMG) to measure MEP peak-to-peak response
Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs)	Performance as measured at the end of learning (30 minute session)	Acoustical stimulation will be used to elicit auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). AEPs will be recorded using electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure the AEP response in the interval between the first positive peak and first negative peak following stimulation (P1-N1 response).
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs)	Performance as measured at the end of learning (30 minute session)	Electrical stimulation will be used to elicit somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). SEPs will be recorded using electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure the SEP response in the interval 20 to 25 ms following stimulation (N20-P25 response).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Yale Child Study Center; 🇺🇸 New Haven, Connecticut, United States