Comparison of Measures of Plasticity
1 other identifier
interventional
16
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the nerve cells to modify their structure or function in response to injury or insult, or other environmental stimuli, with these changes outlasting the period of exposure. Plasticity may be observed as short term or long term changes. In humans, neuroplasticity can be readily assessed in the motor cortex, as excitability changes are demonstrated in the degree to which peripheral muscles are activated, seen through changes in motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). In this study, a number of approaches to assessing neuroplasticity will be evaluated: Paired-associative stimulation (PAS), Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), which is a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and protocols that combine these two. In addition, participants will complete a computerised 'rotor pursuit task' designed to provide a measure of motor learning. The investigators aim to find the most efficacious (defined by greatest number of responders and effect size as seen in an increase in MEP amplitude) brain stimulation protocol. The investigators will expose the same participants to four excitatory conditioning stimulation paradigms, with each session separated by at least a week. Our hypotheses include: The four conditioning stimulation protocols should increase motor cortical excitability, the investigators therefore expect there to be a significant increase in participant MEPs, with a positive correlation in the increase ofMEP amplitude of the protocols. The investigators do however expect that due to the principles of homeostatic metaplasticity, that the protocols preceded by cTBS will show greater MEP change, due to the lowering of the threshold for LTP plasticity induction. In addition, the investigators expect that an increase in the motor learning manifest by the rotor pursuit task and for there to be a correlation in participants between the increase in MEP amplitude and the improvement in time on target (TOT) shown in the motor learning task (MLT).
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable depression
Started Mar 2011
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
March 1, 2011
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 16, 2011
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
March 17, 2011
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 1, 2012
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
November 1, 2012
CompletedNovember 4, 2013
October 1, 2013
1.7 years
March 16, 2011
October 31, 2013
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
amplitude of motor evoked potentials
60 minutes post brain stimulation protocol intervention
Secondary Outcomes (1)
motor learning through performance on a 'rotor pursuit task'
time frame relates to 5 blocks of 5 trials for each participant
Study Arms (4)
PAS25
EXPERIMENTALPAS25 refers to the intervention 'paired-associative stimulation' with peripheral ulnar nerve stimulation followed by TMS to the motor cortex 25 ms after.
cTBS-PAS
EXPERIMENTAL40 seconds of continuous Theta-burst stimulation, followed by PAS25 which refers to the intervention 'paired-associative stimulation' with peripheral ulnar nerve stimulation followed by TMS to the motor cortex 25 ms after.
iTBS
EXPERIMENTAL190 seconds of intermittent theta-burst stimulation
cTBS-iTBS
EXPERIMENTAL40 seconds of continuous Theta-burst stimulation, followed by 190 seconds of intermittent Theta-burst stimulation
Interventions
40 seconds of continuous Theta-burst stimulation, followed by PAS25 which refers to the intervention 'paired-associative stimulation' with peripheral ulnar nerve stimulation followed by TMS to the motor cortex 25 ms after
40 seconds of continuous Theta-burst stimulation, followed by 190 seconds of intermittent Theta-burst stimulation
PAS25 refers to the intervention 'paired-associative stimulation' with peripheral ulnar nerve stimulation followed by TMS to the motor cortex 25 ms after.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- healthy controls
- those suffering depression
- aged
You may not qualify if:
- Significant Neurological illness, including epilepsy
- Alcohol use above NHRMC guidelines
- Illicit drug use
- Electronic implant; such as cochlear implant or pacemaker
- Musculoskeletal disorder
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales
Sydney, New South Wales, 2031, Australia
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- DIAGNOSTIC
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 16, 2011
First Posted
March 17, 2011
Study Start
March 1, 2011
Primary Completion
November 1, 2012
Study Completion
November 1, 2012
Last Updated
November 4, 2013
Record last verified: 2013-10