Healthy
Conditions
Brief summary
Sometimes, it is necessary to re-learn a previously learned movement behavior, for example, a bad posture during the golf drive or while playing the piano. Unlearning or relearning an intensively trained behavior is particularly important if the behavior is hampering recovery, for example, in chronic pain or after a stroke. With this pilot study, the brain mechanisms that control the change of pre-existing stable memories of a motor skill will be tested with electroencephalography (EEG). Non-invasive brain stimulation will be used to modulate these brain mechanisms and test if it is possible to change the pre-existing motor memory and the learning of a new motor skill.
Interventions
OTHERTranscranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference).
OTHERInactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention
Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference)
Sponsors
Medical University of South Carolina
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 years or older (2/3 of the final sample will be ≥60years of age) * No previous stroke, brain tumor, neurodegenerative disease, or trauma to the head * Ability to give consent for study participation * who have access to a personal computer with internet
Exclusion criteria
* • Pregnancy * Inability to use all ten fingers to type on a standard computer keyboard * Uncorrected vision, hindering perception of visual cues presented on a standard computer screen * Medication use at the time of study that may interfere with learning or the effect of tACS, including but not limited to carbamazepine, flunarizine, sulpiride, rivastigmine, dextromethorphan; * Neuromuscular disorders affecting hand and finger movements necessary for 10-finger keyboard typing * Presence of neurological or psychiatric disorders * Presence of scalp injury or disease * Prior history of seizures * Prior intracranial surgery * Prior brain radiotherapy * Prior history of intracranial tumor, intracranial infection, or cerebrovascular malformation * Metal in head or neck * Contraindications to MRI (such as severe claustrophobia, implanted medical devices)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral: interference rate | before - after one single intervention (1 hour) | Change in performance precision of a previously learned sensorimotor skill |
| Neural: brain connectivity change | before - after one single intervention (1 hour) | Change in EEG-derived markers of brain activation and connectivity |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral: interference rate | before - after one single intervention (24 hour follow-up) | Change in performance precision of a previously learned sensorimotor skill |
| Neural: brain connectivity change | before - after one single intervention (24 hour follow-up) | Change in EEG-derived markers of brain activation and connectivity |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD
Medical University of South Carolina
Outcome results
None listed