Implicit Learning in Epileptic Children (IMPLICIT)

Epileptic children suffer from impairments in various learning and memory tasks. Yet, no study investigated implicit learning in epileptic children. Implicit learning is not only underlying motor skills acquisition, but also social and cognitive ones. Because acquisition of new skills is optimal during childhood, the study of implicit learning mechanism in children is of major importance. The present study will be the first to explore implicit learning mechanisms in children with epilepsy. Implicit learning mechanisms can be preserved or altered.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Epilepsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: ASRT task

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Marcastel Agathe, PhD; Phone Number: +33 4 27 85 60 40; Email: Agathe.marcastel@chu-lyon.fr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Nemeth Dezso, Pr; Phone Number: +33 4 81 10 66 04; Email: dezso.nemeth@univ-lyon1.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Bron, France
    • Recruiting
    • Service d'Epileptologie Clinique, des Troubles du sommeil et de Neurologie fonctionnelle de l'enfant, à Hôpital Femme Mère et Enfant,
    • Contact: MARCASTEL Agathe
  • Bron
    • Bron, Bron, France, 69675
      • Recruiting
      • Agathe Marcastel, PhD
      • Contact: Marcastel Agathe, PhD; Phone Number: +33 4 27 85 60 40; Email: Agathe.marcastel@chu-lyon.fr
    • Bron, Bron, France, 69675
      • Not yet recruiting
      • Dezso Nemeth
      • Contact: Nemeth Dezso, Pr; Phone Number: +33 4 81 10 66 04; Email: dezso.nemeth@univ-lyon1.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 14 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study focuses on children with epilepsy.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• For Patient group only: Children with epilepsy
• For Control group only: Children without neurological, psychiatric or developmental impairments
• For both groups: Parent or tutors agreement
• For both groups: Affiliated to French social security

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological impairments unrelated to epilepsy
• Psychiatric impairments unrelated to epilepsy
• Developmental impairments unrelated to epilepsy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patients; 8- to 14-years-old children with epilepsy	Behavioral: ASRT task; The ASRT (Alternating Serial Reaction Time) task is a computerized behavioral task measuring implicit learning. This task consists of 20 series of trials lasting 2 minutes each. In each trial, a stimulus is displayed on the screen in one of the four possible predefined locations. The participant must press a button to indicate the position of the stimulus on the screen. Response content and response time are recorded. At the end of every trial, the participant can take a break and resume the task whenever ready. The task lasts about 45 to 50 minutes.
Control; 8- to 14-years-old children without neurological, psychiatric, or developmental impairments	Behavioral: ASRT task; The ASRT (Alternating Serial Reaction Time) task is a computerized behavioral task measuring implicit learning. This task consists of 20 series of trials lasting 2 minutes each. In each trial, a stimulus is displayed on the screen in one of the four possible predefined locations. The participant must press a button to indicate the position of the stimulus on the screen. Response content and response time are recorded. At the end of every trial, the participant can take a break and resume the task whenever ready. The task lasts about 45 to 50 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Response time	Response time (in milliseconds) recorded during the ASRT task	The day of the inclusion
Response accuracy recorded during the ASRT task	Response accuracy (percentage of correct answers)	The day of the inclusion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Marcastel Agathe, PhD, Service d'Epileptologie Clinique, des Troubles du sommeil et de Neurologie fonctionnelle de l'enfant - Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 21, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 21, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 21, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 17, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: children,; Epilepsy,; implicit learning
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Epilepsy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 69HCL21_1190

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