Improving Locomotor Learning With Brain Stimulation

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Motor Learning

In brief

The primary goal of this research was to assess the practicality and initial effectiveness of a motor imagery (MI) intervention combined with elements of action observation (AO), alongside active or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the prefrontal cortex (PFC), on locomotor learning in healthy adults. Feasibility was determined by examining recruitment rates, participant engagement, and safety measures. The efficacy of the intervention was gauged by analyzing the time taken to complete tasks and changes in cerebral blood flow immediately after the intervention and one week later. The study was guided by three main hypotheses: (1) the intervention techniques would be well-received and safe for the participants; (2) compared to a control group, MI training would lead to better learning outcomes and retention of learning; (3) in comparison to the control and sham tDCS groups, active tDCS would result in superior learning outcomes and retention of learning.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06414213

Run by

Appalachian State University

People needed

38

Starts

2022-09-20

Expected to finish

2022-12-22

Last updated by the study team

2025-02-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 99. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Male and female adults age 18 and older
• Freely ambulatory (no assistive walking aids)

You may not qualify if…

• Failure to meet specific inclusion criteria
• History or presence of any neurological disease
• Low visual ability, operationally defined as visual acuity less than 20/70 on the standard eye chart
• Extreme difficulty performing walking tasks due to low visual ability
• Clinical judgment of the investigative team
• Additionally, subjects who are determined to be at increased risk for adverse events during the tDCS procedure, as determined by the tDCS screening questionnaire

Where it is running

• Appalachian State University — Boone, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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