Sensory Memory in Speech Motor Learning

Role of Sensory Working Memory in Speech Motor Learning Aim 2

The proposed studies focus on memory for speech movements and sounds and its relation to learning. Continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) will be used to suppress activity in a region of pre-frontal cortex associated with somatic and auditory working memory (Brodmann area 46v) to test its involvement in learning.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Consolidation; Speech
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Adaptation; Other: cTBS

Detailed Description

This study will assess the relationship between sensory working memory and speech motor adaptation using a between subjects design. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups. Each group will undergo both auditory and somatosensory working memory tests. This will be followed by adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Using a different group of subjects, cTBS will be used to disrupt neural activity in Brodmann area 46v in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex to test its involvement in adaptation. One set of tests will focus on the effects of cTBS on both auditory and somatosensory working memory. A second set of tests will focus on the effects of cTBS on speech motor adaptation to altered auditory feedback. Both working memory and adaptation are assessed on 0 to 100 scales.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: David Ostry; Phone Number: 2038656163; Email: david.ostry@yale.edu

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec
    • Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H3A1G1
      • Recruiting
      • McGill University
      • Contact: Vincent Gracco; Email: vincent.gracco@mcgill.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• right handed adults
• no known physical or neurological abnormalities

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with:
• cardiac pacemaker
• surgical clips or values on the heart
• implants
• metal or metallic fragments in any part of the body
• pregnancy
• claustrophobia
• a personal or family history of epilepsy
• currently taking antipsychotic drugs
• currently taking antidepressant drugs
• currently taking antianxiety drugs
• history of concussion.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Adaptation to Altered Auditory Feedback	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech
Experimental: Auditory Sensory Memory	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech
Experimental: Somatosensory Sensory Memory	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech
Experimental: Adaptation to Altered Auditory Feedback + cTBS to 46v	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech; Other: cTBS; continuous theta-burst stimulation
Experimental: Sensory Memory + cTBS to 46v	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech; Other: cTBS; continuous theta-burst stimulation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Speech Motor Learning	Learning is assessed on a 0 to 100 scale as change in speech sounds (speech formant frequencies). A score of 100 corresponds to complete adaptation.	Performance as measured at the end of learning (single day experiment)
Sensory Memory	Sensory Memory is measured on a 0 to 100 scale. A score of 100 corresponds to perfect memory.	Single day experiment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Ostry, Haskins Laboratories

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 19, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 23, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 21, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2000025475_a; R01DC017439 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No