Young Adults
Conditions
Keywords
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, Cortical excitability, Action observation, Motor execution, Typing
Brief summary
Goal: This study will aim to investigate the effects of different motor stimulation strategies-motor execution (ME) and action observation (AO)-on cortical excitability and typing performance in healthy individuals. Recruitment: A total of 60 healthy university students will be recruited and randomly assigned into three groups: Motor Execution group (n=20) Action Observation group (n=20) Control group (n=20) Evaluation Tools: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) using DEYMED DuoMAG XT will be used to measure Resting Motor Threshold (RMT), Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) Amplitude, and MEP Latency of the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. Online Typing Test will be used to assess typing speed (words per minute) and accuracy (percentage of correct characters). Intervention: The ME group will perform a 3-minute typing task. The AO group will observe a 3-minute first-person video of typing. The Control group will not receive any intervention between assessments. All participants will undergo TMS and typing assessments twice, once before and once after the intervention.
Detailed description
This study will be designed as a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of motor execution (ME) and action observation (AO) on cortical excitability and fine motor performance, using typing as the target motor task. A total of 60 healthy university students will be recruited from the University of Sharjah through convenience sampling. Participants will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and will provide informed consent prior to enrollment. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned into three groups (ME, AO, and Control), with stratification based on baseline typing proficiency to ensure balanced motor skill levels across groups. All participants will undergo a pre-assessment session that will include a 3-minute typing task focused on the index finger and TMS testing targeting the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. TMS measures will include Resting Motor Threshold (RMT), MEP Amplitude, and MEP Latency. During the intervention phase: The ME group will perform the typing task for 3 minutes. The AO group will watch a 3-minute point-of-view video of the same typing task. The Control group will receive no intervention and will simply wait between the assessments. After the intervention, participants in all groups will repeat the same typing task and TMS assessments in the post-assessment phase. Typing performance will be evaluated using an online typing platform, capturing typing speed (words per minute) and accuracy (percentage of correct characters). TMS data will be collected using the DEYMED DuoMAG XT with consistent coil placement and stimulation parameters. Five reproducible MEPs will be recorded per participant per session to ensure reliability.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMotor Execution Typing Task
Participants will perform a 3-minute typing task using custom-designed text that emphasizes index finger use. This task is designed to actively engage the motor cortex and will be administered in a controlled environment using standard posture and equipment. The task aims to elicit changes in cortical excitability, which will be measured pre- and post-intervention using TMS.
BEHAVIORALAction Observation of Typing Task
Participants will observe a 3-minute first-person video of an individual typing the standardized text. The video is designed to activate mirror neuron systems through visual engagement with a familiar motor task. It will be shown once in a controlled setting, and post-assessment of cortical excitability will follow immediately after.
Sponsors
University of Sharjah
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
This will be a double-blinded randomized controlled trial in which participants will be unaware of their group allocation or the purpose of the intervention they receive. Outcome assessors and data analysts will also be blinded to the group assignments. To ensure assessor blinding, TMS and typing data will be coded and analyzed by an independent researcher who is not involved in intervention delivery or participant interaction. The interventions (ME, AO, Control) will be conducted in a standardized format, minimizing interaction and disclosure that could bias results.
Intervention model description
This study will be a prospective, double-blinded, parallel, randomized controlled trial. A total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned into three groups: Motor Execution (ME), Action Observation (AO), and Control. Each group will consist of 20 participants. Interventions will include a 3-minute typing task (ME), a 3-minute observation video (AO), or no task (Control). All participants will undergo pre- and post-intervention typing and TMS assessments.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 26 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 18 and 26 years * Healthy university students with no known neurological, psychiatric, or musculoskeletal conditions * Intact motor functioning of the upper limbs * Basic typing proficiency using a 10-finger typing method * Ability to understand study procedures and provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Typing speed less than 16 words per minute * Use of hunt-and-peck or single-finger typing style * History of seizures or epilepsy * Current use of neuroactive medications * Presence of metallic implants in the head or upper body * Any contraindications to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) * Left-handed individuals using non-standard typing techniques (unless provided with adapted materials)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) | Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window) | Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) will be measured using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) targeting the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. RMT is defined as the minimum stimulation intensity required to evoke a measurable motor evoked potential (MEP) of ≥50 µV in at least 5 out of 10 trials. |
| Change in MEP Latency and Amplitude | Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window) | Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) latency (in milliseconds) and amplitude (in µV) will be assessed using TMS. These measures reflect neural conduction time and the magnitude of cortical response, respectively. |
| Change in Typing Speed (Words Per Minute) | Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window) | Typing speed will be measured using a standardized online typing platform, expressed in words per minute (WPM). Participants will complete a 3-minute typing task using custom text emphasizing index finger usage. |
| Change in Typing Accuracy | Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window) | Typing accuracy will be recorded as the percentage of correctly typed characters during a 3-minute standardized typing task using an online platform. |
Countries
United Arab Emirates
Contacts
Primary ContactMeeyoung Kim, Ph.D.
Outcome results
None listed