The neural correlates of age-related variability in word learning: a neuroimaging study of maturation effects on word learning

Recruiting

Conditions: one, this research will be conducted with healthy participants to investigate word learning.
brain research
human cognition

Registration Number: NL-OMON48125

Lead Sponsor: Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 240

Inclusion Criteria

-Healthy children, adolescents and adults between 8 and 30 years of age
-Normal/ corrected to normal vision
-Normal hearing
-Willingness and ability to understand the nature and content of the study

Exclusion Criteria

-History of neurological or psychiatric treatment
-History of brain surgery or epilepsy
-Any current psychological diagnosis according to the DSM criteria
-Any acute or chronic neurological disorders
-Pregnancy
-MRI incompatability (metal parts in upper body, implants, medical devices or
medial plasters)
-Claustrophobia

Study & Design

Study Type: Observational non invasive

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>In the proposed study, the main study parameters are the brain activation<br /><br>patterns of two fMRI tasks that probe language learning. The main outcomes of<br /><br>this study are the age-related differences in the neural correlates of language<br /><br>learning i.e. functional MRI BOLD activity. We will relate those neural<br /><br>responses to behavioural word learning & artificial language learning success. </p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>In addition to the primary study parameters/outcomes, we will relate the<br /><br>maturational status of the participants* brain to both the activation patterns<br /><br>of the fMRI tasks and the behavioural assessments examining language and<br /><br>cognitive abilities.<br /><br>Maturation of the brain will be assessed using measures of white matter<br /><br>integrity, such as fractional anisotropy, as well as indices reflecting<br /><br>cortical structure, such as cortical thickness.<br /><br>The behavioral assessments will include variables like first and second<br /><br>language proficiency in vocabulary and more general language related abilities<br /><br>like verbal fluency. </p><br>