Effects of Brain Stimulation on Learning and Reasoning

Completed

Conditions studied: Cerebellar Disease, Dementia, Healthy, Parkinson's Disease

In brief

Imaging studies of the brain have revealed the different areas involved in the processes of learning and reasoning. However, the specific role these regions play in these processes, or if stimulating these areas can improve these processes is unknown. Researchers would like to use repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) to better understand the roles of individual brain regions on the processes of learning and reasoning. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) involves the placement of a cooled electromagnet with a figure-eight coil on the patient's scalp, and rapidly turning on and off the magnetic flux. This permits non-invasive, relatively localized stimulation of the surface of the brain (cerebral cortex). The effect of magnetic stimulation varies, depending upon the location, intensity and frequency of the magnetic pulses. The purpose of this study is to use rTMS to help determine the roles of different brain regions in the development of implicit learning of motor sequences and analogic reasoning. In addition, researchers hope to evaluate if stimulation of these regions speeds up the process of learning or analogic reasoning.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00001776

Run by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

People needed

122

Starts

1997-10-01

Expected to finish

2003-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2008-03-04

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Right handed normal volunteers (18-65 years old).
• Patients with Parkinson's disease off medication.
• Patients with cerebellar deficits.
• Patients with frontal lobe lesions.
• Patients with frontal lobe dementia.

You may not qualify if…

• Subjects with personal or family history of seizures or other neurological disorders.
• Pregnant women.
• Volunteers or patients with severe coronary artery disease.
• Metal in the cranium except mouth.
• Intracardiac lines.
• Increased intracranial pressure as evaluated by clinical means.
• Cardiac pacemakers.
• Intake of neuroleptics.

Where it is running

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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