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Neural Mechanisms of the Contextual Interference Effect: A fNIRs and EEG Study (GRID12007)

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Information provided by:
Drexel University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01134978
First received: May 27, 2010
Last updated: November 4, 2011
Last verified: May 2011
History of Changes
  Purpose

The overall goal of this study is to gain insight into the neural mechanisms of learning multiple tasks. By examination of cognitive and behavioral output during the performance and learning of several computer maze tasks, and through a detailed examination of the neural activity obtained from functional near-infrared (fNIR) and electroencephalography (EEG), it may be possible to gain insight into the impact of the amount of practice and the organization of practice has on learning fine motor skills. This insight may provide direction as to how to better develop instructional and rehabilitation protocols in addition to clinical interventions to facilitate recovery of function, relearning and transfer of cognitive and fine motor skills based upon neural responses to physical practice.


Condition Intervention Phase
Healthy Individuals
Learning
 Behavioral: Practice Order
 Phase 1

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single Blind (Subject)
Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Official Title: Neural Mechanisms of the Contextual Interference Effect: A fNIRs and EEG Study

Further study details as provided by Drexel University:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • metabolic measures of neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [ Time Frame: outcomes measured 72 - 96 hours post-training ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) uses specific wavelets of light, that are introduced at the scalp to measure changes in the relative ratios of deoxygenated hemoglobin and oxygenated hemoglobin in the capillary beds during brain activity.


Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Behavioral measures [ Time Frame: measured 72-96 hours post training ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    maze behavioral responses of time to traverse the maze (sec), distance traveled (pixels)and average maze velocity (pixels/sec) are calculated.


Estimated Enrollment: 20
Study Start Date: November 2007
Study Completion Date: June 2011
Primary Completion Date: December 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Practice Schedules
Subjects are randomly assigned to either a blocked or random practice schedule when learning three 3-D computer mazes. A blocked practice schedule is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order, while a random practice schedule has tasks presented in a nonsequential, unpredictable order. Neural activity and behavioral measures will differ for the two practice schedules. For memory and transfer, it is predicted that random practice will be better than blocked practice.
 Behavioral: Practice Order

Blocked order - predictable

Random order - unpredictable

Other Names:
  • High contextual interference - random practice schedule
  • Low contextual interference - blocked practice schedule

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 55 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 to 55 years of age
  • vision correctable to 20/20
  • right-handed
  • English is first language or learned English before age of 5 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 17 years or younger and 56 years or older
  • pregnant
  • have latex or tape adhesives allergies
  • self-exclude if:
  • had a history of seizures, head injury or neurological dysfunction
  • history or diagnosis of depression, schizophrenia or social phobia
  • previous admission to alcohol/drug treatment program or diagnosis of alcohol/drug abuse
  • take medications know to affect neurological function.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01134978

Locations
United States, Pennsylvania
Cognitive Motor Movement Neuroscience Lab (CoMMoNS) - rm 3612 NCB, Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19102
Sponsors and Collaborators
Drexel University
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Patricia A Shewokis, PhD Drexel University
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Patricia A. Shewokis, PhD, Drexel University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01134978     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: 16758
Study First Received: May 27, 2010
Last Updated: November 4, 2011
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by Drexel University:
repeated measures design
random assignment to groups

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013