Spectral Characteristics of Memory Transformation (MEM_MOD)

Probing Mechanisms of Procedural Memory Transformation With Cross-frequency Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Cf-tACS) as an Avenue to Sculpt Sensorimotor Behavior

Sometimes, it is necessary to re-learn a previously learned movement behavior, for example, a bad posture during the golf drive or while playing the piano. Unlearning or relearning an intensively trained behavior is particularly important if the behavior is hampering recovery, for example, in chronic pain or after a stroke. With this pilot study, the brain mechanisms that control the change of pre-existing stable memories of a motor skill will be tested with electroencephalography (EEG). Non-invasive brain stimulation will be used to modulate these brain mechanisms and test if it is possible to change the pre-existing motor memory and the learning of a new motor skill.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention; Other: Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD; Phone Number: 3435 (843)792-; Email: heisek@musc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • South Carolina
    • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
      • Recruiting
      • Medical University of South Carolina
      • Contact: Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD; Phone Number: 843-792-3435; Email: heisek@musc.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older (2/3 of the final sample will be ≥60years of age)
• No previous stroke, brain tumor, neurodegenerative disease, or trauma to the head
• Ability to give consent for study participation
• who have access to a personal computer with internet

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Pregnancy

  • Inability to use all ten fingers to type on a standard computer keyboard
  • Uncorrected vision, hindering perception of visual cues presented on a standard computer screen
  • Medication use at the time of study that may interfere with learning or the effect of tACS, including but not limited to carbamazepine, flunarizine, sulpiride, rivastigmine, dextromethorphan;
  • Neuromuscular disorders affecting hand and finger movements necessary for 10-finger keyboard typing
  • Presence of neurological or psychiatric disorders
  • Presence of scalp injury or disease
  • Prior history of seizures
  • Prior intracranial surgery
  • Prior brain radiotherapy
  • Prior history of intracranial tumor, intracranial infection, or cerebrovascular malformation
  • Metal in head or neck
  • Contraindications to MRI (such as severe claustrophobia, implanted medical devices)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active non-invasive brain stimulation during behavioral memory interference; Non-invasive brain stimulation with transcranial alternating current stimulation will be applied during a memory interference intervention.	Other: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention; Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference).
Sham Comparator: Sham stimulation during behavioral memory interference; Inactive (sham) stimulation will be applied during a memory interference intervention.	Other: Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention; Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Behavioral: interference rate	Change in performance precision of a previously learned sensorimotor skill	before - after one single intervention (1 hour)
Neural: brain connectivity change	Change in EEG-derived markers of brain activation and connectivity	before - after one single intervention (1 hour)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Behavioral: interference rate	Change in performance precision of a previously learned sensorimotor skill	before - after one single intervention (24 hour follow-up)
Neural: brain connectivity change	Change in EEG-derived markers of brain activation and connectivity	before - after one single intervention (24 hour follow-up)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 30, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 7, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): July 14, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 14, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 7, 2023
• Last Verified: July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 00126392

Drug and device information, study documents

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