Developing and Optimizing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Motor Rehabilitation

This study aims to evaluate three different transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols and their impact on motor system neurophysiology and skill learning.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Motor Skills; Motor Cortex
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Detailed Description

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that induces long-term changes in connections between neuronal networks. This and the ability to activate the whole motor system allows the use of TMS to facilitate motor recovery. The motor system has different excitatory states associated with ongoing mu oscillation. Here, the investigators will monitor brain mu oscillations in real-time non-invasively using electroencephalography and modulate the function of the motor system. The investigators will test the impact of three different TMS protocols on motor system neurophysiology and skill learning. These data will provide novel understanding needed to improve TMS approaches for individuals requiring motor rehabilitation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-40 years old
• Able to read, understand, and sign the informed consent in English
• Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

• A sensory or physical impairment
• History of epilepsy or seizures in the family
• Non-removable metal or electronics (e.g., a cochlear implant, cardiac pacemaker, or implanted electronic devices) in your head or body
• A head injury with loss of consciousness
• Diagnosis of psychiatric or neurological disorder
• Skin defects or active infections on the scalp or hands
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Single-pulse TMS over the primary motor cortex; We will administer single-pulse TMS to the primary motor cortex while measuring motor responses and just before a skill-learning task.	Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that can induce long-term changes in connections between neuronal networks.
Experimental: Paired-pulse TMS over the primary motor cortex; We will administer paired-pulse TMS to the primary motor cortex while measuring motor responses and just before a skill-learning task.	Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that can induce long-term changes in connections between neuronal networks.
Sham Comparator: Sham TMS over the primary motor cortex; We will administer sham TMS to the primary motor cortex while measuring motor responses and before a skill-learning task.	Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS); Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that can induce long-term changes in connections between neuronal networks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effect of TMS on motor evoked potentials	Amplitude of the motor evoked potentials in millivolts.	Up to 1 second after TMS
Skill learning accuracy	Skill learning accuracy as the total number of correct responses.	Up to 12 minutes
Skill learning speed	Skill learning speed in seconds.	Up to 12 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Elisa Kallioniemi
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elisa Kallioniemi, Ph.D., New Jersey Institute of Technology

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 27, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Healthy; TMS; Motor system
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Therapeutics; Magnetic Field Therapy; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB_2303032088

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Preprocessed and anonymized data will be provided upon request to the faculty / research staff of recognized research, medical, and educational institutions for educational and scientific purposes.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data will be shared only upon request after the study has ended (within 6 months).
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: To receive access, the study investigators must be contacted via an institutional e-mail.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

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