Cortical Excitability During de Novo Motor Learning

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

De novo motor learning: Subjects will follow 3 sessions of de-novo motor learning (days 1, 2, 8)

Study summary

De novo motor learning is a specific learning paradigm that allows investigation of how a new motor skill is learned from scratch. Motor task learning can induce increased corticospinal excitability and reorganization of connectivity observed within the motor cortex (M1). Several studies have investigated the plasticity mechanisms underlying motor learning using simple paradigms. The results obtained have been variable, with a major trend toward increased corticospinal excitability, while other results show no increase. We expect to observe a significant increase in excitability and enhanced intracortical reorganization mechanisms within M1 in our subjects during our de novo motor learning sessions.

The primary objective of this study is to measure changes in corticospinal excitability of the motor system across 3 de novo motor learning sessions separated by different time intervals.

The secondary objectives will be: 1) to measure learning across the three practice sessions, 2) to measure changes in inhibition and facilitation across the 3 learning sessions, and 3) to measure correlations between subjects' motor performance and corticospinal and intracortical changes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) Amplitude Input-Output Curve Assessed by Single-Pulse TMS — Baseline (Day 1, pre-session), immediately post-session on Day 1, pre-session on Day 2, immediately post-session on Day 2, pre-session on Day 9, and immediately post-session on Day 9
  Motor Evoked Potential amplitude (mV) recorded from the target muscle (Abductor Pollicis Brevis) in response to increasing TMS intensities. The parameters of the sigmoid input-output curve will be calculated using a Boltzmann function fit.
• Change in Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (SICI) Assessed by Paired-Pulse TMS — Baseline (Day 1, pre-session), immediately post-session on Day 1, pre-session on Day 2, immediately post-session on Day 2, pre-session on Day 9, and immediately post-session on Day 9
  Conditioned MEP amplitude expressed as a ratio of unconditioned MEP amplitude (%), using a conditioning stimulus at 80% RMT and inter-stimulus interval of 3 ms.
• Change in Long-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (LICI) Assessed by Paired-Pulse TMS — Baseline (Day 1, pre-session), immediately post-session on Day 1, pre-session on Day 2, immediately post-session on Day 2, pre-session on Day 9, and immediately post-session on Day 9
  Conditioned MEP amplitude as a ratio of unconditioned MEP amplitude (%), using a conditioning stimulus at suprathreshold intensity and inter-stimulus interval of 100ms.
• Change in Intracortical Facilitation (ICF) Assessed by Paired-Pulse TMS — Baseline (Day 1, pre-session), immediately post-session on Day 1, pre-session on Day 2, immediately post-session on Day 2, pre-session on Day 9, and immediately post-session on Day 9
  Conditioned MEP amplitude as a ratio of unconditioned MEP amplitude (%), using a conditioning stimulus at 80% RMT and an inter-stimulus interval of 10ms.

Trial sites (1)

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