Clinical trial NCT04891393: The Effects of Caffeine on Human Spinal Motoneurons
Official title: The Effects of Caffeine on Human Spinal Motoneurons
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Keywords: Motor Neuron
Excitability
Caffeine
Lead sponsor: Temple University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-05-18
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: This study evaluates the effects of orally ingested, commercially available, coffee (3 mg/kg of caffeine) on the excitability of human spinal motoneurons of the lower leg.

Detailed description: Recently, it has been shown that human spinal motoneurons do not simply act as a binary control system. Instead, they are regulated by intrinsic properties that can elicit lingering effects on the descending motoneuron. Caffeine, one of the world's most popular over-the-counter supplements, can potentially augment these characteristics of motoneurons. Using decomposition software and non-invasive, high-density surface electromyography, it is possible to extract the characteristics of these motoneurons. This project will utilize a double-blind, inactive-placebo controlled, crossover design study to examine and quantify the effects of caffeine on motoneuron excitability.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

● Between 18 and 70 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

* Significant neurological or orthopedic injuries, which may limit volitional torque generation in the tested muscles.
* Significant change in the subjects' health or treatment in the past month.
* Known history of cardiovascular pathology (to include: uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias) or medical restrictions to caffeine ingestion.
* Allergies or dislike of coffee.
* Women who are pregnant will be excluded due to potential forces at trunk from pelvic safety harness and due to potential adverse effects of caffeine on the developing child.
* Women who are breastfeeding will be excluded due potential adverse effects on the breastfeeding infant from caffeine administration.
* Adults unable to consent, minors, pregnant women, and prisoners will not be included.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Motoneuron excitability (Delta-f)
timeFrame: Measured repeatedly at set intervals; Pre-Intervention & 30, 60, 90 minutes post-Intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Motor Unit Discharge Rate
timeFrame: Measured repeatedly at set intervals; Pre-Intervention & 30, 60, 90 minutes post-Intervention
measure: Coherence
timeFrame: Measured repeatedly at set intervals; Pre-Intervention & 30, 60, 90 minutes post-Intervention
measure: Motor Unit Recruitment Threshold
timeFrame: Measured repeatedly at set intervals; Pre-Intervention & 30, 60, 90 minutes post-Intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Temple University
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: Temple University
name: Christopher Thompson, PT, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Gorassini M, Yang JF, Siu M, Bennett DJ. Intrinsic activation of human motoneurons: possible contribution to motor unit excitation. J Neurophysiol. 2002 Apr;87(4):1850-8. doi: 10.1152/jn.00024.2001.
citation: Rosenberg JR, Amjad AM, Breeze P, Brillinger DR, Halliday DM. The Fourier approach to the identification of functional coupling between neuronal spike trains. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 1989;53(1):1-31. doi: 10.1016/0079-6107(89)90004-7. No abstract available.
citation: Farina D, Negro F. Accessing the neural drive to muscle and translation to neurorehabilitation technologies. IEEE Rev Biomed Eng. 2012;5:3-14. doi: 10.1109/RBME.2012.2183586.