Spectral Characteristics of Memory Transformation

NCT ID: NCT05946616

Last Updated: 2026-01-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-03-31

Brief Summary

Sometimes, it is necessary to re-learn a previously learned movement behavior, for example, a bad posture during the golf drive or while playing the piano. Unlearning or relearning an intensively trained behavior is particularly important if the behavior is hampering recovery, for example, in chronic pain or after a stroke. With this pilot study, the brain mechanisms that control the change of pre-existing stable memories of a motor skill will be tested with electroencephalography (EEG). Non-invasive brain stimulation will be used to modulate these brain mechanisms and test if it is possible to change the pre-existing motor memory and the learning of a new motor skill.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Active non-invasive brain stimulation during behavioral memory interference

Non-invasive brain stimulation with transcranial alternating current stimulation will be applied during a memory interference intervention.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention

Intervention Type: OTHER

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference).

Sham stimulation during behavioral memory interference

Inactive (sham) stimulation will be applied during a memory interference intervention.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention

Intervention Type: OTHER

Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference)

Interventions

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention

Inactive (sham) stimulation combined with behavioral intervention (memory interference)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 years or older (2/3 of the final sample will be ≥60years of age)
• No previous stroke, brain tumor, neurodegenerative disease, or trauma to the head
• Ability to give consent for study participation
• who have access to a personal computer with internet

Exclusion Criteria

• • Pregnancy

• Inability to use all ten fingers to type on a standard computer keyboard
• Uncorrected vision, hindering perception of visual cues presented on a standard computer screen
• Medication use at the time of study that may interfere with learning or the effect of tACS, including but not limited to carbamazepine, flunarizine, sulpiride, rivastigmine, dextromethorphan;
• Neuromuscular disorders affecting hand and finger movements necessary for 10-finger keyboard typing
• Presence of neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Presence of scalp injury or disease
• Prior history of seizures
• Prior intracranial surgery
• Prior brain radiotherapy
• Prior history of intracranial tumor, intracranial infection, or cerebrovascular malformation
• Metal in head or neck
• Contraindications to MRI (such as severe claustrophobia, implanted medical devices)

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

Sponsors

Medical University of South Carolina

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Medical University of South Carolina

Locations

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

00126392

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id