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OPTIMAL Motor Learning in Table Tennis: A fNIRS Study

27 ottobre 2026 aggiornato da: Hui-Ting Shih, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Does the OPTIMAL Theory Enhance Motor Learning and Cognitive and Sensorimotor Area Cortical Activation? A Theoretical Mechanism Validation in Young, Older Adults, and Cognitively Impaired Older Adults Novice Table Tennis Players

This study investigates how OPTIMAL theory influences table tennis backhand learning in young, healthy older, and mild cognitively impaired older adults. Meanwhile, we investigate the neural mechanisms of motor skill acquisition across different ages. This study utilizes functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor brain activity. Beyond immediate performance, the research focuses on Retention (sustained skill over time) and Transfer (application to novel tasks) as critical indicators of true motor learning. To ensure objective results, a double-blind design is employed, where both participants and data analysts remain blinded to group assignments during behavioral and fNIRS data processing to minimize bias.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Non ancora reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

90

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Luoghi di studio

      • Taipei, Taiwan
        • National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
        • Contatto:

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

Da 18 anni a 80 anni (Adulto, Adulto più anziano)

Accetta volontari sani

Sì

Sessi ammissibili allo studio

Tutto

Descrizione

Healthy young adults are aged between 18 and 30 years, while healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are aged between 65 and 80 years. Regarding cognitive criteria, healthy young adults and healthy older adults must score 24 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Older adults with MCI must further meet the following diagnostic criteria for MCI:

  1. Subjective cognitive decline: The participants themselves or their family members/primary caregivers report a decline in memory or cognitive function.
  2. Objective cognitive impairment: The education-adjusted score on the Taiwanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-T) is between 20 and 23. One point is added to the total MoCA-T score for individuals with less than 12 years of education. Considering the heterogeneity in education levels among Taiwan's older generation, if a participant has 6 or fewer years of education (elementary school or below) or is illiterate, the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic (MoCA-B) will be administered as a supplement. This is to reduce false-positive interference on the visuospatial and executive function subtests caused by a low educational level.
  3. Preserved activities of daily living: The score on the Compensatory Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL-C) scale ranges from 1.34 to 3.06, indicating that the participant possesses the ability to live independently and has not reached the level of dementia.

In addition to the age and cognitive requirements, participants across all three groups must meet the following inclusion criteria:

  1. Right-handed, with an Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) score > 40;
  2. Table tennis beginners who have never received professional table tennis instruction;
  3. Played table tennis less than once a month in the past year;
  4. Normal hearing and normal or corrected-to-normal vision.

Exclusion criteria include:

  1. Over 3 years of experience in other racket sports;
  2. A history of neurological or psychiatric disorders;
  3. Any musculoskeletal system diseases that might interfere with the experiment;
  4. Unstable cardiopulmonary function rendering them unsuitable for moderate-intensity aerobic exercise;
  5. Taking medications that affect the central nervous system or blood oxygen signals, such as potent sedative-hypnotics, antiepileptic drugs, or antipsychotic medications.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Scienza basilare
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Doppio

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Young Adults - OPTIMAL

OPTIMAL theory-based instruction

Dose: 15 blocks of practice, with each block consisting of 30 table tennis backhand strokes (Total: 450 trials).

Description: The intervention integrates three components: (1) Autonomy Support (AS): Participants choose the color of the table tennis balls. (2) Enhanced Expectancy (EE): A visual illusion is used where the target is surrounded by smaller circles, making the target appear larger to boost confidence. (3) External Focus (EF): Instructions direct attention toward the target rather than limb movements.

Comparatore attivo: Young Adults - Control

Conventional instruction

Dose: Same as Experimental group (15 blocks x 30 trials; Total: 450 trials).

Description: (1) No choice is provided (Yoked control). (2) A visual illusion is used where the target is surrounded by larger circles, making the target appear smaller. (3) Instructions focus on body mechanics, such as elbow position and swing path (Internal Focus).

Sperimentale: Older Adults - OPTIMAL

OPTIMAL theory-based instruction

Dose: 15 blocks of practice, with each block consisting of 30 table tennis backhand strokes (Total: 450 trials).

Description: The intervention integrates three components: (1) Autonomy Support (AS): Participants choose the color of the table tennis balls. (2) Enhanced Expectancy (EE): A visual illusion is used where the target is surrounded by smaller circles, making the target appear larger to boost confidence. (3) External Focus (EF): Instructions direct attention toward the target rather than limb movements.

Comparatore attivo: Older Adults - Control

Conventional instruction

Dose: Same as Experimental group (15 blocks x 30 trials; Total: 450 trials).

Description: (1) No choice is provided (Yoked control). (2) A visual illusion is used where the target is surrounded by larger circles, making the target appear smaller. (3) Instructions focus on body mechanics, such as elbow position and swing path (Internal Focus).

Sperimentale: MCI Older Adults - OPTIMAL

OPTIMAL theory-based instruction

Dose: 15 blocks of practice, with each block consisting of 30 table tennis backhand strokes (Total: 450 trials).

Description: The intervention integrates three components: (1) Autonomy Support (AS): Participants choose the color of the table tennis balls. (2) Enhanced Expectancy (EE): A visual illusion is used where the target is surrounded by smaller circles, making the target appear larger to boost confidence. (3) External Focus (EF): Instructions direct attention toward the target rather than limb movements.

Comparatore attivo: MCI Older Adults - Control

Conventional instruction

Dose: Same as Experimental group (15 blocks x 30 trials; Total: 450 trials).

Description: (1) No choice is provided (Yoked control). (2) A visual illusion is used where the target is surrounded by larger circles, making the target appear smaller. (3) Instructions focus on body mechanics, such as elbow position and swing path (Internal Focus).

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Motor Performance (Accuracy Score)
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)

Accuracy is measured with a target-centered scoring system on a 0-7 scale per ball; higher scores indicate better accuracy.

7 pts: Hit target (10 cm diameter).

6 pts: Hit zone (20 cm).

5 pts: Hit zone (30 cm).

4 pts: Hit zone (40 cm).

3 pts: Hit zone (50 cm).

2 pts: Hit opposite table surface but missed target zones.

1 pt: Ball was hit but missed the opposite table.

0 pts: Failed to hit the ball.

The performance is presented by blocks. Each block contains 30 balls. The average score of each block is calculated.

Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) Activation
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)

Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration (μM) in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during table tennis backhand task blocks.

Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)
Premotor Cortex (PMC) Activation
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)

Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration (μM) in the bilateral premotor cortex (PMC), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during table tennis backhand task blocks.

Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)
Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) Activation
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)

Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration (μM) in the supplementary motor area (SMA), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during table tennis backhand task blocks.

Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)
Sensorimotor Cortex (SMC) Activation
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)

Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration (μM) in the sensorimotor cortex (SMC), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during table tennis backhand task blocks.

Day 1 Pre-test: before practice (3 blocks) Acquisition: during practice (15 blocks) Post-test: immediately after practice (3 blocks) Day 2 Retention test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks) Transfer test: at least 24 hours after Day 1 (3 blocks)
Self-Efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale, GSES)
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 Immediately after Pre-test

Self-efficacy is measured with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), a 10-item self-report scale.

Each item is rated from 1 (not at all true) to 4 (exactly true), giving a total score of 10 to 40; higher scores indicate higher self-efficacy.

Day 1 Immediately after Pre-test

Altre misure di risultato

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Manipulation Check
Lasso di tempo: Day 1 After Post-test Day 2 After Transfer test

A questionnaire verifying whether participants perceived the assigned experimental manipulations (autonomy support, enhanced expectancies, and attentional focus). It consists of 19 items rated mainly on 0-10 scales (items 10-11 on a 0-100% scale); higher scores indicate stronger agreement or greater perception of the corresponding construct.

Day 1 After Post-test Day 2 After Transfer test

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Stimato)

1 novembre 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

31 agosto 2028

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

31 ottobre 2028

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

8 ottobre 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

27 ottobre 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

3 novembre 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

3 novembre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

27 ottobre 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 ottobre 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • NYCU115196AE

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .