Understanding New Semantic Memory Learnings Across the Lifespan (ULIS)

The aim of this research is to specify the changes in brain connectivity (i.e. EEG phase synchronisation between brain regions) associated with semantic learning between individuals belonging to different age groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Neurodevelopmental Changes (Childhood, Ageing)
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Electroencephalography

Detailed Description

Semantic memory is a crucial concept in cognitive science. It has long been conceptualised as a static, amodal memory system containing knowledge about the world, concepts and symbols. Although recourse to this concept is inevitable, the mechanisms, both cognitive and neurobiological, that govern it are far from being elucidated. There are many debates and controversies in this fundamental field of cognitive science, and more specifically around the question of the acquisition and formation of knowledge in semantic memory. The literature on the development of semantic memory during ontogeny is full of contradictions.

A review of this literature highlights the many unanswered questions surrounding semantic memory. How quickly is information encoded and then consolidated into a format that justifies the term semantic knowledge? What are the neural bases underlying the formation of knowledge in semantic memory? How does semantic knowledge evolve through new episodes? How do these mechanisms evolve during ontogeny? To what extent can some semantic learning be preserved from cognitive ageing? In the face of these many questions, the literature highlights the lack of tasks enabling semantic memory to be approached in an operational manner and the need to specify the cerebral mechanisms involved at different ages of life.

The general hypotheses that will be tested as part of the ULIS project are as follows:

1. New semantic learning is possible independently of episodic memory processes.
2. This learning differs according to the age of the participants.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Thomas Hinault, PhD; Phone Number: +33231568140; Email: thomas.hinault@inserm.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Non-opposition by the participant or those exercising parental authority in the case of minors
• French language fluency (assessed by the investigating team)
• Absence of global cognitive deficit attested by a score on the MOCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) scale greater than or equal to 26/30 (test carried out at inclusion).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Person subject to a guardianship, curatorship or safeguard of justice measure
• Non affiliation to a social security scheme

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

5

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
6-7 years children	Device: Electroencephalography; Phase synchrony during the completion of the semantic memory task
10-11 years children	Device: Electroencephalography; Phase synchrony during the completion of the semantic memory task
20-35 years adults	Device: Electroencephalography; Phase synchrony during the completion of the semantic memory task
60-70 older adults	Device: Electroencephalography; Phase synchrony during the completion of the semantic memory task
70-80 older adults	Device: Electroencephalography; Phase synchrony during the completion of the semantic memory task

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
EEG Phase synchrony differences between age groups	Through study completion, an average of 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Behavioral performance differences between age groups (semantic memory task)	through study completion, an average of 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Caen
• Collaborators: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon
• Investigators: Study Chair: Clémence Tomadesso, University Hospital, Caen

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 28, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2024
• First Posted (Estimated): June 4, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): June 4, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Ageing; EEG; Childhood; Semantic memory
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-A00167-40

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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