Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 11:22 AM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:02 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00001776
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2008-03-04
First Post:
1999-11-03
Brief Title:
Effects of Brain Stimulation on Learning and Reasoning
Sponsor:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS
Organization:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center CC
Study Overview
Official Title:
Can Stimulation of Frontal Cortical Regions Facilitate Performance on Tests of Procedural Implicit Learning and Analogical Reasoning
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2003-12
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:
Imaging studies of the brain have revealed the different areas involved in the processes of learning and reasoning However the specific role these regions play in these processes or if stimulating these areas can improve these processes is unknown
Researchers would like to use repetitive transcranial stimulation rTMS to better understand the roles of individual brain regions on the processes of learning and reasoning Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS involves the placement of a cooled electromagnet with a figure-eight coil on the patients scalp and rapidly turning on and off the magnetic flux This permits non-invasive relatively localized stimulation of the surface of the brain cerebral cortex The effect of magnetic stimulation varies depending upon the location intensity and frequency of the magnetic pulses
The purpose of this study is to use rTMS to help determine the roles of different brain regions in the development of implicit learning of motor sequences and analogic reasoning In addition researchers hope to evaluate if stimulation of these regions speeds up the process of learning or analogic reasoning
Researchers would like to use repetitive transcranial stimulation rTMS to better understand the roles of individual brain regions on the processes of learning and reasoning Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS involves the placement of a cooled electromagnet with a figure-eight coil on the patients scalp and rapidly turning on and off the magnetic flux This permits non-invasive relatively localized stimulation of the surface of the brain cerebral cortex The effect of magnetic stimulation varies depending upon the location intensity and frequency of the magnetic pulses
The purpose of this study is to use rTMS to help determine the roles of different brain regions in the development of implicit learning of motor sequences and analogic reasoning In addition researchers hope to evaluate if stimulation of these regions speeds up the process of learning or analogic reasoning
Detailed Description:
The human frontal cortex subserves a number of psychological processes including those necessary for adequate implicit learning of visuomotor sequences and analogical reasoning
1 Implicit learning is a form of procedural learning indicated by behavioral improvement without awareness of a repeated stimulus structure that leads to improved performance This type of learning has been associated with activation of the primary motor cortex M1 in neuroimaging studies While neuroimaging studies contributed to identify this region they do not provide information about its relative role in the process of implicit learning Is activity in this region necessary for implicit learning to occur Is it possible that energizing this region using subthreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation can accelerate the implicit phase of learning The purpose of this protocol is to transiently stimulate focally M1 and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during acquisition of implicit learning and evaluate the effects on reaction times and accuracy of performance We plan to study a group of normal volunteers and three groups of patients who demonstrate impaired visuomotor procedural learning tasks those with Parkinsons disease cerebellar disease and focal frontal lesions The result expected from this study is an advanced understanding of the role that the motor cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays in implicit learning in health and disease Additionally we expect to be able to shorten the implicit phase of learning by rTMS particularly in the patient groups that exhibit abnormal procedural learning
2 Analogical reasoning requires that subjects adequately process different forms of information and then perform a mapping process that allows them to recognize the similarity between two or more forms of information Evidence has been provided that indicates this process of analogical mapping is subserved by the frontal cortex We plan to study a group of normal volunteers and three groups of patients who demonstrate impaired performance on tests of analogical reasoning and problem-solving those with Parkinsons disease frontal lobe dementia and focal frontal lesions We predict that subthreshold rTMS will facilitate analogical reasoning by promoting the activation of established or novel neural activation patterns that represents the actual mapping and decision processes required for analogical reasoning Additionally we expect to facilitate response times and accuracy in analogical mapping in those patients that exhibit abnormal analogical reasoning performance
1 Implicit learning is a form of procedural learning indicated by behavioral improvement without awareness of a repeated stimulus structure that leads to improved performance This type of learning has been associated with activation of the primary motor cortex M1 in neuroimaging studies While neuroimaging studies contributed to identify this region they do not provide information about its relative role in the process of implicit learning Is activity in this region necessary for implicit learning to occur Is it possible that energizing this region using subthreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation can accelerate the implicit phase of learning The purpose of this protocol is to transiently stimulate focally M1 and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during acquisition of implicit learning and evaluate the effects on reaction times and accuracy of performance We plan to study a group of normal volunteers and three groups of patients who demonstrate impaired visuomotor procedural learning tasks those with Parkinsons disease cerebellar disease and focal frontal lesions The result expected from this study is an advanced understanding of the role that the motor cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays in implicit learning in health and disease Additionally we expect to be able to shorten the implicit phase of learning by rTMS particularly in the patient groups that exhibit abnormal procedural learning
2 Analogical reasoning requires that subjects adequately process different forms of information and then perform a mapping process that allows them to recognize the similarity between two or more forms of information Evidence has been provided that indicates this process of analogical mapping is subserved by the frontal cortex We plan to study a group of normal volunteers and three groups of patients who demonstrate impaired performance on tests of analogical reasoning and problem-solving those with Parkinsons disease frontal lobe dementia and focal frontal lesions We predict that subthreshold rTMS will facilitate analogical reasoning by promoting the activation of established or novel neural activation patterns that represents the actual mapping and decision processes required for analogical reasoning Additionally we expect to facilitate response times and accuracy in analogical mapping in those patients that exhibit abnormal analogical reasoning performance
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98-N-0025 | None | None | None |