Fitt's Law MI Experiment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of our study is to investigate the acute effects of real execution (RE) and motor imagery (MI) of Fitts law tasks on near and far transfer of learning.

Detailed Description
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Studies show changes in alpha (7.5 - 15 Hz) and beta (15 - 30 Hz) frequencies before and during motor tasks. However, researchers still disagree on the origin, timing, and direction of this. The neurophysiological mechanisms of motor learning are not yet fully understood. The authors note that event-related beta desynchronization is most commonly associated with motor learning. Reduced beta wave power can be observed in motor cortex, but it is still unclear whether this change is related to motor learning, performance, or movement repetition. A comparative study of motor imagery and actual performance showed the occurrence of similar neurophysiological processes in the motor cortex. All the mentioned studies were conducted on adults and the results were mainly from the analysis of upper limb movements. In the present study, the investigators will comprehensively evaluate the upper and lower limb movements of children: from the recognition of visual stimuli to the generation of the motor program and the execution itself (behavioral data). Forty-five children (year 2009) will be recruited from local primary schools. In a single-blinded design, children will be randomized into three groups (1st - real execution, 2nd - motor imagery, 3rd - control) and compared at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at follow-up 24 hours post-intervention. At pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments, participants will perform two different patterns of the Fitts Law task with the predefined difficulty: lower limbs/whole body and upper limbs/hands on an interactive whiteboard. The intervention period lasts approximately 10 minutes, during which participants perform the Fitts law task with different difficulty according to the intervention group to which they belong. During the upper limb/hand tasks, brain activity will be recorded with electroencephalography (EEG).

Official Title
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Neural Aspects of Motor Learning Through Real Execution and Motor Imagery in Children

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Real execution of Fitts's law tasks
* Behavioral: Motor imagery of Fitts's law tasks
* Behavioral: Skip counting


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: born in 2009 no significant muscular, skeleton or nervous system damage the earlier-signed agreement to take part in the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: Nervous system disorders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 12 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: In a single-blind design children will be randomized into three groups: 1st - real execution, 2nd - motor imagery, 3rd - control (skip counting)
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Real execution group<br>The real execution group will perform the acute intervention by the actual performance of the Fitt's law task. | Behavioral: Real execution of Fitts's law tasks<br>* Children will be training Fitts's law tasks of different difficulties. Once each task will be solved, they will receive a new, more demanding task<br>* Other names: REg;|
| Experimental: Motor imagery group<br>The motor imagery group will perform the acute intervention by simulating (mental process) the Fitt's law task. | Behavioral: Motor imagery of Fitts's law tasks<br>* Children will be training Fitts's law tasks of different difficulties, same as RE group but the exception of doing it mentally - motor imagery of Fitts's law tasks with eyes open.<br>* Other names: MIg;|
| Active Comparator: Control group<br>The control group will perform skip counting. | Behavioral: Skip counting<br>* Children in SCg will silently count (one number per second) in the same working blocks as both experimental groups with a task of saying the number they reached during each block - control condition to keep them mentally active at very low mental engagement.<br>* Other names: SCg;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline Movement related cortical potential at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention | Event related potential that are typically linked with updating of internal models, decision-making and motor preparation. | Assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline Fitts's law task performance at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention | Change in movement time (seconds) needed to solve Fitts's law tasks of different difficulites | Assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention | 
| Change from baseline Fitts's law task performance at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention | Accuracy, namely, a group of trials repeatedly hitting a narrow band (precise) but off the center of the target (inaccurate) | Assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention and at 24-yhours follow-up post intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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EEG, Motor learning, Fitt's law, Motor imagery