Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 11:39 AM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:10 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00091533
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2017-07-02
First Post:
2004-09-09
Brief Title:
Neural Correlates of Observation of Tactile Stimulation in Healthy Subjects
Sponsor:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS
Organization:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center CC
Study Overview
Official Title:
Neural Correlates of Observation of Tactile Stimulation in Healthy Subjects
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2008-09-02
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
This study will examine activity in the brain during the observation of touch Studies with animals have shown that mirror neurons or nerve cells are active during the observation and performance of an action The researchers for this study hypothesize that a similar system pertains to observing and experiencing touch
Patients ages 18 to 75 years old who are in good health are right handed and who are able to perform simple tasks that require attention may be eligible for this study Pregnant women are not eligible
Patients who have not had a health screening at NIH will undergo a clinical and neurological exam Women of childbearing potential will also have a pregnancy test The screening will take about 2 to 3 hours A diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan will be performed if patients have not undergone one in the previous 12 months During the procedure patients will lie still on a table that will slide into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner They will be asked to lie as still as possible for up to a few minutes at a time As the scanner takes pictures patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the scan and they may ask to be moved out of the machine at any time This scan will take about 2 hours
Two sessions are involved in the study The first one is intended to familiarize patients with the procedure During it they will learn about hand stimulus through watching a video showing the index finger of a hand being touched by a stick repeatedly Then the activity will be repeated but this time a researcher will also touch the patients index finger while he or she is watching the video This session will take about 1 hour
The second session consists of a functional MRI scan or fMRI During it pictures of the brain will be taken while patients perform tasks All tasks will be explained in advance and patients will have an opportunity to practice them before entering the scanner The fMRI scan will take 1 to 2 hours
The researchers will discuss the results of the tests with the participants There is not a direct benefit to those who take part in the study However it is hoped that resulting information will enhance researchers understanding about how the brain processes observed information
Patients ages 18 to 75 years old who are in good health are right handed and who are able to perform simple tasks that require attention may be eligible for this study Pregnant women are not eligible
Patients who have not had a health screening at NIH will undergo a clinical and neurological exam Women of childbearing potential will also have a pregnancy test The screening will take about 2 to 3 hours A diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan will be performed if patients have not undergone one in the previous 12 months During the procedure patients will lie still on a table that will slide into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner They will be asked to lie as still as possible for up to a few minutes at a time As the scanner takes pictures patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the scan and they may ask to be moved out of the machine at any time This scan will take about 2 hours
Two sessions are involved in the study The first one is intended to familiarize patients with the procedure During it they will learn about hand stimulus through watching a video showing the index finger of a hand being touched by a stick repeatedly Then the activity will be repeated but this time a researcher will also touch the patients index finger while he or she is watching the video This session will take about 1 hour
The second session consists of a functional MRI scan or fMRI During it pictures of the brain will be taken while patients perform tasks All tasks will be explained in advance and patients will have an opportunity to practice them before entering the scanner The fMRI scan will take 1 to 2 hours
The researchers will discuss the results of the tests with the participants There is not a direct benefit to those who take part in the study However it is hoped that resulting information will enhance researchers understanding about how the brain processes observed information
Detailed Description:
Objective
There is growing evidence that a mirror system for action observation exists Neurons in the monkey premotor cortex discharge with performance of goal directed actions and also with observation of another individual performing a similar action This mirror neuron system for action observation seems to be important for the recognition and understanding of actions Recently bimodal neurons sensitive both for tactile stimulation and for visual stimuli were found in the parietal cortex This suggests the idea that there might be a similar mirror neuron system for observing and receiving or experiencing tactile stimulation The neuronal correlates of observing tactile stimulation are mainly unknown The purpose of this protocol is to determine the pattern of brain activation related to the observation of a tactile stimulated hand
Study Population
We will test our hypothesis by means of a functional MRI fMRI experiment in a group of healthy subjects
Design
We hypothesize that observation of touch will rely on the activation of a cortical network that is different form the observation of non-touch and is in part overlapping with cortical structures active during real tactile stimulation ie somatosensory cortex Further we hypothesize that the observation of touch enhances activation in the somatosensory cortex during real tactile stimulation
Outcome Measures
Our outcome measure will be an increase in the number of activated voxels in the somatosensory cortex during the touch observation for both hypothesis This would give an important hint for a mirror system for observed and received touch A mirror neuron system for observed touch may become an important tool in rehabilitative treatment for patients with somatosensory impairments
There is growing evidence that a mirror system for action observation exists Neurons in the monkey premotor cortex discharge with performance of goal directed actions and also with observation of another individual performing a similar action This mirror neuron system for action observation seems to be important for the recognition and understanding of actions Recently bimodal neurons sensitive both for tactile stimulation and for visual stimuli were found in the parietal cortex This suggests the idea that there might be a similar mirror neuron system for observing and receiving or experiencing tactile stimulation The neuronal correlates of observing tactile stimulation are mainly unknown The purpose of this protocol is to determine the pattern of brain activation related to the observation of a tactile stimulated hand
Study Population
We will test our hypothesis by means of a functional MRI fMRI experiment in a group of healthy subjects
Design
We hypothesize that observation of touch will rely on the activation of a cortical network that is different form the observation of non-touch and is in part overlapping with cortical structures active during real tactile stimulation ie somatosensory cortex Further we hypothesize that the observation of touch enhances activation in the somatosensory cortex during real tactile stimulation
Outcome Measures
Our outcome measure will be an increase in the number of activated voxels in the somatosensory cortex during the touch observation for both hypothesis This would give an important hint for a mirror system for observed and received touch A mirror neuron system for observed touch may become an important tool in rehabilitative treatment for patients with somatosensory impairments
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None
Secondary IDs
| Secondary ID | Type | Domain | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04-N-0278 | None | None | None |