The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning

Mechanisms Underlying the Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: MRI system; Device: MEG system

Detailed Description

Study Description:

We will investigate the within-individual contribution of wakeful and sleep neural replay to motor skill consolidation in three groups: (a) young healthy subjects, (b) older healthy subjects and (c) patients with chronic stroke.

Objectives:

The primary aim is to determine the relative contribution of neural replay during wakeful rest and sleep to consolidation of a newly learned skill in young and older healthy volunteers, and in chronic stroke patients with magnetoencephalography (MEG). The secondary aim is to evaluate differences in replay rates between these subject cohorts. We will also explore differences in replay rates, spatiotemporal dynamics of neural replay and sleep spindles to generate additional hypotheses and preliminary data for future studies.

Endpoints:

The primary endpoint measure is motor skill consolidation (i.e., offline change in correct sequence typing speed following a nap). The secondary endpoint measure is neural replay rate. Exploratory endpoints measures are spatial (i.e. - parcellated source space) and time-frequency maps of neural replay during wakeful rest and sleep, and changes in button-press finger movement kinematics during learning.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 199

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Tasneem F Malik, C.R.N.P.; Phone Number: (301) 451-1335; Email: tasneem.malik@nih.gov
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Leonardo G Cohen, M.D.; Phone Number: (301) 496-9782; Email: cohenl1@mail.nih.gov

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • Recruiting
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
      • Contact: For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR); Phone Number: TTY8664111010 800-411-1222; Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Right-handed adults between the ages of 18 and 80.

Description

• HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

• 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.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

• 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:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

• 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

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

• 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
• Uncontrolled heart, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, metabolic, psychiatric, sleep, or endocrine disorders as determined by the screening clinician
• Contraindications for MRI or MEG.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
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	Device: MRI system; MRI system - GE Discovery MR750 3T; Device: MEG system; MEG system The CTF MEG 275 Magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner system

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Exploratory endpoints measures are spatial (i.e. - parcellated source space) and time-frequency maps of neural replay during wakeful rest and sleep.	Exploratory endpoints measures are spatial (i.e. - parcellated source space) and time-frequency maps of neural replay during wakeful rest and sleep.	4 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Leonardo G Cohen, M.D., National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 4, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 14, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): March 18, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 20, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2025
• Last Verified: August 12, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Natural History; Sleep; Motor Skill; Neural Replay
• Other Study ID Numbers: 200060; 20-N-0060

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No