TMS-based Assessment of Mental Training Effects on Motor Learning in Healthy Participants

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation: Magnetic stimulation of the cortex

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: Electric stimulation of the nerves

Transcranial direct current stimulation: Electric stimulation of the cortex

Paired Associative Stimulation: Combined magnetic and electric stimulation of cortex and nerve, respectively

Wrist: Short-term immobilization of the arm

Robotic arm: External perturbation of force field induced by robotic arm

Cervicomedullar stimulation: Electric stimulation of the muscle

Physical training: Training to perform the task by actually doing the task

Mental training: Training to perform the task by imaging doing the task

Study summary

The general purpose of this research project is to analyze the specific role of motor imagery on motor learning, assessed through corticospinal excitability measurements and behavioral data collection. This project is based on four sequences. For Sequence 1, the main objective is to examine the effect of mental training on movement speed and accuracy in a manual motor sequence task, as well as the influence of sensory feedback in immediate post-test (i.e., execution of a similar, but not identical, manual motor sequence, other manual tasks) on performance in delayed post-test. The secondary objective will be to examine corticospinal changes (i.e., amplitude of motor evoked potentials) induced by mental training, by measuring the amplitude of motor evoked potentials before and after mental training. For Sequence 2, the main objective is to examine the impact of a motor disturbance induced by a robotic arm at different intervals during the motor imagery process. The secondary objective will be to examine the corticospinal changes (i.e. amplitude of evoked motor potentials) induced by mental training as a function of the applied perturbations, before and after perturbation. For Sequence 3, the main objective will be to examine the influence of neuroplasticity on the quality of mental training. More specifically, the investigators will study the links between brain plasticity and motor learning through mental training. The secondary objective will be to examine the corticospinal changes (i.e. amplitude of evoked motor potentials) induced by mental training at different levels of the neuromuscular system (cortical, cervicomedullar, peripheral) after a training period. For Sequence 4, the main objective will be to examine the effect of short-term arm-immobilization of on the retention of motor learning induced by mental training. The secondary objective will be to examine the corticospinal changes (i.e., amplitude of motor evoked potentials) induced by of short-term arm-immobilization, or by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), on motor learning. The results of this fundamental research project will allow a better understanding of neurophysiological and behavioral mechanisms that underlie motor learning through motor imagery. The results will allow to efficiently consider inter-individual specificities and will thus open up to clinical research perspectives, towards the establishment of adapted motor rehabilitation protocols.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Evolution of movement speed - Sequence 1 — Each day in Sequence 1 (Sequence 1 is 11 days)
  The duration of performed movement sequences
• Evolution of movement accuracy - Sequence 1 — Each day in Sequence 1 (Sequence 1 is 11 days)
  The accuracy of performed movement sequences (i.e., the correspondence between the performed finger motor sequences and the requested finger motor sequence).
• Evolution of trajectory error - Sequence 2 — Each day in Sequence 2 (Sequence 1 is 10 days)
  The area under the curve of hand's trajectory according to the straight line joining the starting target and the final target.
• Evolution of maximal deviation - Sequence 2 — Each day in Sequence 2 (Sequence 1 is 10 days)
  The maximal perpendicular distance between the position of the hand and the straight line joining the starting target and the final target
• Evolution of final error - Sequence 2 — Each day in Sequence 2 (Sequence 1 is 10 days)
  The distance between the final position of the hand and the position of the final target.
• Evolution of movement speed - Sequence 3 — Each day from day 2 to day 11 of Sequence 3 (Sequence 3 is 11 days)
  The duration of performed movement sequences
• Evolution of movement accuracy - Sequence 3 — Each day from day 2 to day 11 of Sequence 3 (Sequence 3 is 11 days)
  The accuracy of performed movement sequences (i.e., the correspondence between the performed finger motor sequences and the requested finger motor sequence).
• Evolution of movement speed - Sequence 4 — Each day in Sequence 4 (Sequence 4 is 6 days)
  The duration of performed movement sequences
• Evolution of movement accuracy - Sequence 4 — Each day in Sequence 4 (Sequence 4 is 6 days)
  The accuracy of performed movement sequences (i.e., the correspondence between the performed finger motor sequences and the requested finger motor sequence).

Trial sites (1)

More Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France trials in France

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