Examining Lateralized Aspects of Motor Control Using Non-invasive Neural Stimulation

Cerebellum Clinical Trial

Official title:

Examining Lateralized Aspects of Motor Control Using Non-invasive Neural Stimulation

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05947279
• Other study ID #: HM20025761
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: April 3, 2024
• Est. completion date: December 15, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: May 2024
• Source: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Contact: Brooke Dexheimer, PhD, OTD, OTR/L
• Phone: 563-547-0125
• Email: dexheimerb[@]vcu.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Motor adaptation and generalization are believed to occur via the integration of various forms of sensory feedback for a congruent representation of the body's position in space along with estimation of inertial properties of the limb segments for accurate specification of movement. Thus, motor adaptation is often studied within curated environments incorporating a "mis-match" between different sensory systems (i.e. a visual field shift via prism googles or a visuomotor rotation via virtual reality environment) and observing how motor plans change based on this mis-match. However, these adaptations are environment-specific and show little generalization outside of their restricted experimental setup. There remains a need for motor adaptation research that demonstrates motor learning that generalizes to other environments and movement types. This work could then inform physical and occupational therapy neurorehabilitation interventions targeted at addressing motor deficits.

Description:

Voluntary movement and sensory perception are fundamental aspects of the human experience. Senses such as visual and proprioceptive feedback inform movement by continuously providing the central nervous system with information on limb location, movement error, and task performance. However, the specific mechanisms behind how different forms of sensory information are used to adapt and generalize movement remain poorly understood.

Motor adaptation, or the modification of movement based on error feedback (Martin et al., 1996), is often elicited during rehabilitation but must be generalized to functional performance, such as activities of daily living, in order to successfully rehabilitate motor deficits following stroke. Motor adaptation and generalization are believed to occur via the integration of various forms of sensory feedback for a congruent representation of the body's position in space along with estimation of inertial properties of the limb segments for accurate specification of movement. Thus, motor adaptation is often studied within curated environments incorporating a "mis-match" between different sensory systems (i.e. a visual field shift via prism googles or a visuomotor rotation via virtual reality environment) and observing how motor plans change based on this mis-match. However, these adaptations are environment-specific and show little generalization outside of their restricted experimental setup. There remains a need for motor adaptation research that demonstrates motor learning that generalizes to other environments and movement types. This work could then inform physical and occupational therapy neurorehabilitation interventions targeted at addressing motor deficits.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: December 15, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: December 15, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Right-handed as determined by the short-form Edinburgh Handedness Inventory

• Between the ages of 18 and 40

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mixed- or left-handed as determined by the short-form Edinburgh Handedness Inventory

• Self-reported history of any of the following:

Seizure and/or diagnosis of epilepsy Fainting spells Concussion with loss of consciousness Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Cochlear implants Migraines Diagnosed psychological or neurological condition Metal in the scalp

• Any previous adverse reaction to a brain stimulation technique

• Any previous adverse reaction to 3D virtual reality environments (i.e. 'cybersickness')

• Possibility of being currently pregnant (for females only)

• Current open head wound or skin condition of the scalp

• Current implanted device(s) (i.e. cardiac pacemaker)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cerebellum

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Comparing motor adaptation reaching performance
By comparing motor adaptation reaching performance between these three groups, the investigators can examine how stimulation to each specific area of the brain modulates different aspects of motor adaptation

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center	Richmond	Virginia

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Virginia Commonwealth University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Initial direction error, or difference between participant's fingertip direction	Initial direction error, or difference between participant's fingertip direction at the timepoint of peak velocity relative to a linear path to the target. As for time frame, this is a single-visit study. Initial direction error will be compared during baseline reaching and following 20 minutes of non-invasive neural stimulation.	Completion of the study visit, approx 20 minutes
Primary	Initial direction error variance	Initial direction error variance across multiple trials.	Completion of the study visit, approx 20 minutes
Secondary	Final position error	Secondary outcome: final position error, or distance from participant's fingertip position at the conclusion of the reach to the center of the target. Similar to above, this measure will be compared during baseline and following 20 minutes of stimulation.	Completion of the study visit, approx 20 min
Secondary	Final position error variance across multiple trials.	Final position error variance across multiple trials.	Completion of the study visit, approx 20 min
Secondary	Deviation from linearity	Deviation from linearity, or a ratio of minimum and maximum displacement across the parallel and perpendicular planes of the reaching movement.	Completion of the study visit, approx 20 min
Secondary	Peak tangential velocity	Peak tangential velocity, or highest tangential velocity reached during reach.	Completion of the study visit, approx 20 min