Neural Mechanisms of the Contextual Interference Effect: A fNIRs and EEG Study

NCT ID: NCT01134978

Last Updated: 2011-11-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2007-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2011-06-30

Brief Summary

The overall goal of this study is to gain insight into the neural mechanisms of learning multiple tasks. By examination of cognitive and behavioral output during the performance and learning of several computer maze tasks, and through a detailed examination of the neural activity obtained from functional near-infrared (fNIR) and electroencephalography (EEG), it may be possible to gain insight into the impact of the amount of practice and the organization of practice has on learning fine motor skills. This insight may provide direction as to how to better develop instructional and rehabilitation protocols in addition to clinical interventions to facilitate recovery of function, relearning and transfer of cognitive and fine motor skills based upon neural responses to physical practice.

Conditions

Healthy Individuals; Learning

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Practice Schedules

Subjects are randomly assigned to either a blocked or random practice schedule when learning three 3-D computer mazes. A blocked practice schedule is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order, while a random practice schedule has tasks presented in a nonsequential, unpredictable order. Neural activity and behavioral measures will differ for the two practice schedules. For memory and transfer, it is predicted that random practice will be better than blocked practice.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Practice Order

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Blocked order - predictable

Random order - unpredictable

Interventions

Practice Order

Blocked order - predictable

Random order - unpredictable

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

High contextual interference - random practice schedule; Low contextual interference - blocked practice schedule

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 to 55 years of age
• vision correctable to 20/20
• right-handed
• English is first language or learned English before age of 5 years

Exclusion Criteria

• 17 years or younger and 56 years or older
• pregnant
• have latex or tape adhesives allergies
• self-exclude if:
• had a history of seizures, head injury or neurological dysfunction
• history or diagnosis of depression, schizophrenia or social phobia
• previous admission to alcohol/drug treatment program or diagnosis of alcohol/drug abuse
• take medications know to affect neurological function.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Pennsylvania Department of Health

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Drexel University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Drexel University

Principal Investigators

Patricia A Shewokis, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Drexel University

Locations

Cognitive Motor Movement Neuroscience Lab (CoMMoNS) - rm 3612 NCB, Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Countries

United States

References

Ayaz H, Shewokis PA, Curtin A, Izzetoglu M, Izzetoglu K, Onaral B. Using MazeSuite and functional near infrared spectroscopy to study learning in spatial navigation. J Vis Exp. 2011 Oct 8;(56):3443. doi: 10.3791/3443.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 22005455 (View on PubMed)

Shewokis PA, Ayaz H, Izzetoglu M, Bunce S, Gentili RJ, Sela I, Izzetoglu K, Onaral B. Brain in the Loop: Assessing Learning using fNIR in cognitive and motor tasks. D.D. Schmorrow and C.M. Fidopiastis (Eds.).Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, 6780: 240-249. 2011. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.

Reference Type: RESULT

Shewokis PA, Ayaz H, Izzetoglu K, Izzetoglu M, Bunce SC, Schultheis MT, Pourrezaei K. Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity during the learning of computer tasks in a contextual interference paradigm using fNIRs: a case series. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology 30: S130. 2008.

Reference Type: RESULT

Shewokis PA, Ayaz H, Izzetoglu M, Getchell N, Izzetoglu K. the acquisition and learning of computer tasks in a contextual interference paradigm: Using functional near infrared spectroscopy to examine prefrontal cortex activity. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. 32: S127-S128. 2010.

Reference Type: RESULT

Other Identifiers

16758

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id