Neurophysiological and Functional Mechanisms of Motor Control and Learning
- Conditions
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Registration Number
- NCT03190590
- Lead Sponsor
- NYU Langone Health
- Brief Summary
Noninvasive stimulation of the central nervous system, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has been increasingly used in the investigation of cortical plasticity. The purpose of our study is to understand mechanistically-at the neurophysiological and systems levels-how the brain learns new motor skills. We propose to study the acquisition, consolidation, and retention of motor skill learning in healthy subjects. At the behavioral level, we will use movement kinematics to quantify and characterize movement, which allow us to infer functional strategies used by the brain to reduce movement errors. At a neurophysiological level, we will use TMS to document changes in cortical circuitry, which will allow us to infer neuroplastic changes possibly subserving these strategies. At a systems level, we will enhance motor system excitability using tDCS, which will enable us to infer the contribution of the stimulated area to the motor system's ability to learn new skills.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 30
- Right-handed dominance
- Ability to give informed consent
- active and/or chronic neurological, psychiatric (including depression), or medical conditions
- psychoactive medication use
- active drug/alcohol dependence or abuse history
- homelessness or other social situation that would preclude consistent visits
- history of head injury (including neurosurgery)
- history of seizure
- inability to comprehend or participate in the procedures involved
- metal in the head (besides in mouth), such as implanted electrodes or devices, shrapnel, surgical clips, or fragments from welding/metalwork
- implanted devices (such as cardiac pacemakers, medical pumps, or intracardiac lines) in the thorax
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Motor skill gain from day 1 to day 5 5 Days defined as an improvement in performance accuracy at fixed movement speeds (see 5.2 for description of task and outcome). The delta in accuracy between day 1 and day 5 equates to motor skill learning.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Related Research Topics
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Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
New York University School of Medicine
🇺🇸New York, New York, United States
New York University School of Medicine🇺🇸New York, New York, United States