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NCT Number: NCT04829071

Cognition and Motor Learning Post-stroke

This project seeks to determine how post-stroke cognitive impairment moderates motor learning during walking in older adults with chronic stroke and identify brain structural markers that mediate this relationship. The chosen experimental design integrates biomechanical analyses, neuropsychological assessments, and brain imaging techniques to determine the impact of post-stroke cognitive impairment severity on two forms of motor learning (explicit and implicit) and examine the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the relationship between cognition and explicit motor learning. Ultimately, this work may lead to the development of a more comprehensive, effective treatment approach to improve walking dysfunction in older adults post-stroke.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident) Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

45 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

Center for Health Professions

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Kristan Leech, PT, DPT, PhD

CONTACT

3124421583

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Unilateral stroke
  • Stroke occurred more than 6 months prior
  • Paresis confined to one side
  • Independently ambulatory (including the use of assistive devices)
  • Able to walk for 5 minutes without stopping
  • Answers no to all general health questions on the PAR-Q+
  • Willingness to complete study procedures

Exclusion criteria

  • Brainstem or cerebellar stroke
  • Aphasia (expressive, receptive, or global)
  • Any major musculoskeletal or non-stroke neurological condition that interferes with the assessment of sensorimotor or cognitive function
  • Metal in the head (except in the mouth), implanted cranial or thoracic devices that violate MRI safety regulations
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (>160/110mmHg)
  • Concurrent physical therapy
  • Claustrophobia
  • Significant cognitive deficit or dementia (<20 on MoCA)
  • Inability to give informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Explicit motor learning

Behavioral

Participants will be provided with visual feedback of their right and left step lengths on a screen in front of a treadmill.

Implicit motor learning

Behavioral

Participants will walk on a treadmill that drives their right and left legs to move at two different speeds.

Primary outcomes

  1. step length asymmetry - change in performance

    Time frame: Measured at three timepoints of interest within each testing session: baseline and at the beginning and end of the interventions; participants will complete 2 testing sessions over approximately 1 months

    characterized as a comparison between the right and left step lengths; captured to quantify change in performance with biofeedback or split belt walking

Secondary outcomes

  1. step length asymmetry - immediate retention

    Time frame: Measured after motor learning in each testing session; participants will complete 2 testing sessions over approximately 1 months

    characterized as a comparison between the right and left step lengths; captured to quantify the retention of a newly learned walking pattern

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Kristan Leech, PT, DPT, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

(323) 442-1583

Sarah Kettlety, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

(323) 442-1196

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Southern California

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Cognition as a Moderator of Motor Learning Post-stroke

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 2, 2021
Registry last updated
Nov 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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