Fitt's Law MI Experiment

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Behavioral: Real execution of Fitts's law tasks; Behavioral: Motor imagery of Fitts's law tasks; Behavioral: Skip counting

• Registration Number: NCT04744597
• Lead Sponsor: Science and Research Centre Koper

Brief Summary

The aim of our study is to investigate the acute effects of real execution (RE) and motor imagery (MI) of Fitts law tasks on near and far transfer of learning.

Detailed Description

Studies show changes in alpha (7.5 - 15 Hz) and beta (15 - 30 Hz) frequencies before and during motor tasks. However, researchers still disagree on the origin, timing, and direction of this. The neurophysiological mechanisms of motor learning are not yet fully understood. The authors note that event-related beta desynchronization is most commonly associated with motor learning. Reduced beta wave power can be observed in motor cortex, but it is still unclear whether this change is related to motor learning, performance, or movement repetition.

A comparative study of motor imagery and actual performance showed the occurrence of similar neurophysiological processes in the motor cortex. All the mentioned studies were conducted on adults and the results were mainly from the analysis of upper limb movements. In the present study, the investigators will comprehensively evaluate the upper and lower limb movements of children: from the recognition of visual stimuli to the generation of the motor program and the execution itself (behavioral data).

Forty-five children (year 2009) will be recruited from local primary schools. In a single-blinded design, children will be randomized into three groups (1st - real execution, 2nd - motor imagery, 3rd - control) and compared at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at follow-up 24 hours post-intervention. At pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments, participants will perform two different patterns of the Fitts Law task with the predefined difficulty: lower limbs/whole body and upper limbs/hands on an interactive whiteboard. The intervention period lasts approximately 10 minutes, during which participants perform the Fitts law task with different difficulty according to the intervention group to which they belong.

During the upper limb/hand tasks, brain activity will be recorded with electroencephalography (EEG).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-01-25
• Status Verified: 2021-02
• Study Start: 2021-02-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-02-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-02-04
• Study First Posted: 2021-02-09
• Last Update Posted: 2021-02-09
• Primary Completion: 2021-05-10
• Study Completion: 2021-06-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 45

Inclusion Criteria

• born in 2009
• no significant muscular, skeleton or nervous system damage
• the earlier-signed agreement to take part in the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria

• Nervous system disorders

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Real execution group	Real execution of Fitts's law tasks	The real execution group will perform the acute intervention by the actual performance of the Fitt's law task.
Motor imagery group	Motor imagery of Fitts's law tasks	The motor imagery group will perform the acute intervention by simulating (mental process) the Fitt's law task.
Control group	Skip counting	The control group will perform skip counting.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline Movement related cortical potential at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention	Assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention	Event related potential that are typically linked with updating of internal models, decision-making and motor preparation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline Fitts's law task performance at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention	Assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention	Accuracy, namely, a group of trials repeatedly hitting a narrow band (precise) but off the center of the target (inaccurate)