Neurophysiological and Functional Mechanisms of Motor Control and Learning

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

New York University School of Medicine

New York, 10016, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Right-handed dominance
Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

tDCS-NeuroConn.

Procedure

tDCS is delivered noninvasively via electrodes applied to the surface of the head, and a mild electrical current is given during motor training.

TMS - Magstim.

Procedure

TMS is delivered noninvasively via a hand-held coil applied to the surface of the head, and a magnetic pulse probes cortical circuitry [this is not repetitive TMS and so does NOT modulate brain excitability

Sham tDCS

Procedure

delivered by briefly turning on and off the stimulator at the beginning of training, which mimics the sensation of true stimulation.

Primary outcomes

Motor skill gain from day 1 to day 5

Time frame: 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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2018
Primary completion: 2018
Study completion: 2018
First posted: Jun 19, 2017
Registry last updated: Apr 29, 2024

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed