The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning

Part of paid clinical trials in Bethesda, Maryland.

Sponsor
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Study ID
NCT04312126
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 80 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • MRI system — DEVICE
    MRI system - GE Discovery MR750 3T
  • MEG system — DEVICE
    MEG system The CTF MEG 275 Magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner system

Study Details

Background: Memory consolidation is the process by which memories become stable, long-term representations in the brain. Consolidation of a motor skill is dependent upon sleep. Some research shows that daytime naps improve people s motor performance and memory retention. Researchers want to find out how daytime naps may contribute to learning and support consolidation of motor skill memories. Objective: To learn the role of memory replay during wakeful rest and sleep (naps) in retaining a newly learned skill. Eligibility: English-speaking adults ages 18 and older with chronic stroke, or healthy, right-handed, English-speaking adults ages 18-35 and 50-80 Design: Participants will be screened with: * medical history * neurological history * medicine review * medical exam * neurological exam. Participants will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. For this, they will lie down in a scanner. The scanner makes loud noises, so they will wear earplugs. They will fill out an MRI screening form before each MRI. Participants will also have magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG maps brain activity. It does this by recording the magnetic fields produced by naturally occurring electrical currents in the brain. For MEG, participants will lie down in the MEG room. Their eye movements may be recorded by a video camera. Participants will have behavior testing. They will practice typing random keys. Then they will repeatedly type a custom sequence that they see on a computer screen. Then they will take a 2-hour nap. Then they will type the same sequence again. Participants will have no more than 4 visits at the NIH over 3 months. Visits will last 2-4 hours each.

Key Dates

Start date
Mar 4, 2021
Status verified
Aug 2025
Primary completion
Aug 1, 2026
Completion
Aug 1, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
199 participants (estimated)

Arms

  • Arm: Arm 1
    46 healthy young (18-35) volunteers
  • Arm: Arm 2
    46 healthy older (50-80) volunteers
  • Arm: Arm 3
    46 chronic (\>6 months post-stroke) stroke patients

Primary Outcome Measure

The primary endpoint measure is the degree to which motor skill consolidation (i.e., offline change in correct sequence typing speed) is predicted by replay rates during wakeful rest and sleep, and spindle rates during sleep (i.e. multiple r... [ Time Frame: 4 years ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesdaMaryland20892
For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR)
[email protected]
800-411-1222

Find similar trials in Bethesda, MD

By condition
Stroke
By specialty
NeurologyBrain disorders
By research site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center· Bethesda, MD

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