Clinical trial NCT04971486: Feedback, Motor Sequence Learning, and Brain Connectivity
Official title: Effects of Feedback on Learning of a Motor Sequence Task and Resting State Connectivity
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Adult
Keywords: Motor Learning
Feedback
Brain Function
Lead sponsor: University of South Carolina
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-07-21
Enrollment: 33
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Feedback delivered during motor practice can help promote motor skill learning, enhance confidence, and alter brain connectivity. However, the optimal way to provide feedback to promote learning, confidence and brain connectivity is unknown. This project will study how the feedback that is provided during practice of a movement skill can help people learn and build confidence and whether these correspond to changes in brain function. The investigators will measure motor skill performance, confidence, and resting state brain connectivity before and after a session of motor practice.

Detailed description: Positive social comparative feedback, which indicate to the learner that they are performing above average, is one way to enhance a learner's expectancies about future performance. Expectancies include the learners' perceived competence about their ability to perform the task, expectations about task outcome (success or failure), and predictions of extrinsic reward or positive experiences related to performance. Positive feedback during motor practice enhances expectancies, which is hypothesized to be rewarding to the learner, leading to better skill performance and learning. Reward is a powerful shaper of behavior. However, while social comparative feedback supports motor skill learning, it is unclear whether positive social comparative feedback induces a response in the dopamine reward network. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of social comparative feedback during motor practice on the functional connectivity of the reward neural network. The study aims to recruit 40 participants who will be randomized into 1 of 2 feedback groups (performance feedback or performance plus positive feedback). Participants will practice a motor sequence task on a single day and then return for retention performance testing about 24 hours later. Measures of brain function and brain structure will be collected before and after practice on day 1. Changes in performance (response time to complete a sequence) and self-efficacy will be measured from baseline to 24 hours later at retention. Changes in brain functional connectivity over practice on day 1 will be assessed in the reward network and the motor network.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 to 40 years
* Right-hand dominant

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical diagnosis or medication that affects dopamine (e.g. dopamine reuptake inhibitors)
* Musculoskeletal issues that limit upper extremity movement
* Contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Response Time
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Task Confidence
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Brain Connectivity
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Peak Velocity
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Total Path Distance
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Time to Peak Velocity
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Perceived Competence
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Perceived Interest/Enjoyment
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Positive Affect
timeFrame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
measure: Peak Velocity
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Total Path Distance
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Time to Peak Velocity
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Perceived Competence
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Perceived Interest/Enjoyment
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Positive Affect
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Response Time
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Task Confidence
timeFrame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
measure: Brain Structure
timeFrame: Baseline assessment
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Columbia
country: United States
facility: University of South Carolina
state: South Carolina
Study officials:
References: