CompletedNot Applicable

Layer-specific Contribution to Consolidation of Skill Learning in the Primary Motor Cortex

United States40 participantsStarted 2021-04-21

Plain-language summary

Background: Training in a new motor skill often involves periods of active practice and periods of rest. During early motor skill learning, improvements in performance usually happen during the short rest periods between practice sessions. Researchers want to use improved imaging techniques to study the contributions of specific parts of the brain to how people learn and retain movement skills. Objective: To learn the part played by different layers in the brain in retaining a newly learned movement skill. Eligibility: Healthy, right-handed, English-speaking people age 18-50. Design: Participants will be screened with: * Medical and neurological history * Medicine review * Physical exam * Neurological exam. Participants may have 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. During the MRI, they will lie in the scanner. The scanner makes noise. They will get earplugs. Participants will have behavior testing. A specific order of keys will be displayed on a computer screen. Participants will practice typing the keys with their left hand 36 times (in 10-second blocks). They will repeat this test with a random order of keys. Participants will see single numbers displayed one after the other on the computer screen. They will make single tap responses using the finger that corresponds with the number on the screen. Participants will have up to 4 study sessions. Each session will take about 5 hours.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 50 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Age 18-50 * English speaking * Right-hand dominance (\>74 on Edinburgh Handedness Inventory) * Normal neurological examination * Willing and able to provide informed consent EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * HCPS-affiliated NIH staff (i.e. - staff from our section). * Current pregnancy * Current or past history of use of antiepileptic drugs * Contraindications for MRI (such as certain implants, metal fragments or devices in the body) as determined by the screening clinician * Severe or progressive neurological, psychological or medical condition

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

The primary aim is to determine the role of superficial and deep cortical layers of M1 in the consolidation of motor skill learning.

Timeframe: 4 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04431011

SponsorNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2024-12-09

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