The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
Mechanisms Underlying the Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
2 other identifiers
observational
199
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Background: Memory consolidation is the process by which memories become stable, long-term representations in the brain. Consolidation of a motor skill is dependent upon sleep. Some research shows that daytime naps improve people s motor performance and memory retention. Researchers want to find out how daytime naps may contribute to learning and support consolidation of motor skill memories. Objective: To learn the role of memory replay during wakeful rest and sleep (naps) in retaining a newly learned skill. Eligibility: English-speaking adults ages 18 and older with chronic stroke, or healthy, right-handed, English-speaking adults ages 18-35 and 50-80 Design: Participants will be screened with:
- medical history
- neurological history
- medicine review
- medical exam
- neurological exam. Participants will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. For this, they will lie down in a scanner. The scanner makes loud noises, so they will wear earplugs. They will fill out an MRI screening form before each MRI. Participants will also have magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG maps brain activity. It does this by recording the magnetic fields produced by naturally occurring electrical currents in the brain. For MEG, participants will lie down in the MEG room. Their eye movements may be recorded by a video camera. Participants will have behavior testing. They will practice typing random keys. Then they will repeatedly type a custom sequence that they see on a computer screen. Then they will take a 2-hour nap. Then they will type the same sequence again. Participants will have no more than 4 visits at the NIH over 3 months. Visits will last 2-4 hours each.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for all trials
Started Mar 2021
Longer than P75 for all trials
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 14, 2020
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
March 18, 2020
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 4, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
August 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
August 1, 2026
August 20, 2025
August 12, 2025
5.4 years
March 14, 2020
August 19, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
The primary endpoint measure is the degree to which motor skill consolidation (i.e., offline change in correct sequence typing speed) is predicted by replay rates during wakeful rest and sleep, and spindle rates during sleep (i.e. multiple r...
The primary endpoint measure is the degree to which motor skill consolidation (i.e., offline change in correct sequence typing speed) is predicted by replay rates during wakeful rest and sleep, and spindle rates during sleep (i.e. multiple regression model with 3 predictors).
4 years
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Exploratory endpoints measures are spatial (i.e. - parcellated source space) and time-frequency maps of neural replay during wakeful rest and sleep.
4 years
Study Arms (3)
Arm 1
46 healthy young (18-35) volunteers
Arm 2
46 healthy older (50-80) volunteers
Arm 3
46 chronic (\>6 months post-stroke) stroke patients
Interventions
Eligibility Criteria
Right-handed adults between the ages of 18 and 80.
You may qualify if:
- Age 18-35 (Arm 1) or 50-80 (Arms 2).
- English speaking.
- Clear right-hand dominance (\>74 on Edinburgh Handedness Inventory).
- Normal neurological examination as determined by the screening clinician.
You may not qualify if:
- HCPS affiliated NIH staff (i.e. - staff from our section).
- Current pregnancy.
- Contraindications for MRI or MEG.
- Use of sleep medications within 24 hours of Experimental Session participation.
- Severe or progressive neurological, psychological or medical condition as determined by the screening clinician.
- STROKE PATIENTS:
- Age 18 or older
- Willing and able to provide consent
- Experienced a stroke 6 months ago or more that affected at least one of the upper extremities at time of stroke diagnosis
- Ability to perform the study task as assessed during physical examination
- English-speaking
- HCPS-affiliated NIH staff (i.e. - staff from our section).
- Current pregnancy
- History of large stroke lesions in brainstem or cerebellum as determined by screening clinician
- Severe or progressive neurological disorder other than stroke (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis) as determined by the screening clinician
- +2 more criteria
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Leonardo G Cohen, M.D.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- COHORT
- Time Perspective
- PROSPECTIVE
- Sponsor Type
- NIH
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 14, 2020
First Posted
March 18, 2020
Study Start
March 4, 2021
Primary Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2026
Last Updated
August 20, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-08-12