Clinical trial NCT05946616: Spectral Characteristics of Memory Transformation
Official title: Probing Mechanisms of Procedural Memory Transformation with Cross-frequency Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (cf-tACS) As an Avenue to Sculpt Sensorimotor Behavior
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Lead sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-07-14
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

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.


Eligibility criteria: 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)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Behavioral: interference rate
timeFrame: before - after one single intervention (1 hour)
measure: Neural: brain connectivity change
timeFrame: before - after one single intervention (1 hour)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Behavioral: interference rate
timeFrame: before - after one single intervention (24 hour follow-up)
measure: Neural: brain connectivity change
timeFrame: before - after one single intervention (24 hour follow-up)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Charleston
country: United States
facility: Medical University of South Carolina
state: South Carolina
Study officials:
affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina
name: Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: