Exploring a Motor Learning Technique Based on the Mirror Motor Neuron System
| Status: | Archived |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | Any |
| Updated: | 7/1/2011 |
| Start Date: | March 2009 |
Background:
- Techniques that teach finger movements are commonly used to explore how humans learn to
move. Researchers have designed a simple, new method of learning finger movements,
which will be explored for the first time in this study. The method is based on how
individuals mimic other people's movements.
- Previous studies have shown that a brain protein called brain-derived neurotrophic
factor (BDNF) may be important in movement and in learning. There are normal variations
in the gene for BDNF. As an optional component, this study will also look at whether
these gene variations are associated with differences in movement learning.
Objectives:
- To compare the new motor learning technique with a classic technique to test its
usefulness.
- To examine whether genetic variations have an effect on motor learning.
Eligibility:
- Healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50, who are right-handed.
Design:
- The study will involve two visits to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
- Visit 1: Medical and neurologic examination to determine whether the volunteer is
eligible to participate further in the study. This screening visit will take about 1
hour.
- Visit 2: Volunteers will perform a motor learning task by interacting with a computer
program. In response to images on the computer monitor, volunteers will press buttons
on the keyboard as quickly and accurately as possible. The motor learning task will
last up to 3 hours.
- If a volunteer agrees to genetic testing, researchers will also draw blood for study.
Genetic testing is not required to participate in the motor learning parts of the
study.
Objective
Humans develop skilled movements such as using a spoon or dancing a waltz through a process
known as "motor learning. Harnessing this innate process for its therapeutic potential is
an attractive strategy to help patients suffering from diseases of movement disorders, yet
we do not yet fully understand the normal phenomenon. This study will utilize new paradigms
to explore the physiology of motor learning. It will test the validity of a traditional
motor learning task that has been modified to invoke the mirror neuron system and odor
conditioning. Additionally, by taking advantage of the unique opportunity to assess motor
learning awareness immediately following the task, it will also explore this
behavioral-cognitive relationship. Thus, this work will lay the foundation for further
physiologic characterization of a novel motor learning technique and may support the
development of future therapies.
Study Population
We will study up to one hundred fifty-two healthy, right-handed volunteers who are 18 to 50
years old.
Design
In phase I of the study, volunteers will be seated in front of a computer monitor with their
right hands on a keyboard and respond to visual cues presented on the monitor by pressing
the associated, finger-specific keys as quickly and accurately as possible. Each volunteer
will be presented only the standard visuospatial or the novel mirror cues, defining the two
reaction time task paradigms and experimental groups. In phases II and III of the study, a
similar task will take place while subjects undergo magnetic resonance imaging scanning
either in the presence or absence of an odor. In addition to the motor learning tasks
above, volunteers will have the option to participate in genetic testing for normal genetic
variability that may affect motor learning.
Outcome Measure
The primary outcomes are motor learning and awareness, which will be measured by the
key-press reaction time and accuracy, respectively.
We found this trial at
1
site
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
301-496-2563
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in...
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