Effects of Brain Stimulation on Learning and Reasoning

NCT00001776 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 98002598-N-0025
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 122
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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 patient's 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.

Conditions

Cerebellar Disease; Dementia; Healthy; Parkinson's Disease

Keywords

Magnetic Stimulation; Plasticity; SRTT; Sequence; Implicit Memory; Explicit Memory; Memory; Parkinson's Disease; Cerebellar Deficit; Frontal Lobe Lesions; Frontal Lobe Dementia; Normal Volunteer

Interventions

Cadwell Rapid Rate Magnetic Stimulator DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Right handed normal volunteers (18-65 years old).
• Patients with Parkinson's disease off medication.
• Patients with cerebellar deficits.
• Patients with frontal lobe lesions.
• Patients with frontal lobe dementia.

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects with personal or family history of seizures or other neurological disorders.
• Pregnant women.
• Volunteers or patients with severe coronary artery disease.
• Metal in the cranium except mouth.
• Intracardiac lines.
• Increased intracranial pressure as evaluated by clinical means.
• Cardiac pacemakers.
• Intake of neuroleptics.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Schacter DL, Chiu CY, Ochsner KN. Implicit memory: a selective review. Annu Rev Neurosci. 1993;16:159-82. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ne.16.030193.001111. No abstract available.

  PMID: 8460889 BACKGROUND

• Grafman J, Pascual-Leone A, Alway D, Nichelli P, Gomez-Tortosa E, Hallett M. Induction of a recall deficit by rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation. Neuroreport. 1994 May 9;5(9):1157-60. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199405000-00034.

  PMID: 8080978 BACKGROUND

• Chen R, Gerloff C, Classen J, Wassermann EM, Hallett M, Cohen LG. Safety of different inter-train intervals for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and recommendations for safe ranges of stimulation parameters. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1997 Dec;105(6):415-21. doi: 10.1016/s0924-980x(97)00036-2.

  PMID: 9448642 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cerebellar Diseases; Dementia; Parkinson Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Posted: November 4, 1999
• Study Start: October 1, 1997
• Study Completion: December 1, 2003
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2003-12

Locations

US (1)