Mechanisms Underlying the Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Summary
Background: Memory consolidation is the process by which memories become stable, long-term representations in the brain. Consolidation of a motor skill is dependent upon sleep. Some research shows that daytime naps improve people s motor performance and memory retention. Researchers want to find out how daytime naps may contribute to learning and support consolidation of motor skill memories. Objective: To learn the role of memory replay during wakeful rest and sleep (naps) in retaining a newly learned skill. Eligibility: English-speaking adults ages 18 and older with chronic stroke, or healthy, right-handed, English-speaking adults ages 18-35 and 50-80 Design: Participants will be screened with: * medical history * neurological history * medicine review * medical exam * neurological exam. Participants will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. For this, they will lie down in a scanner. The scanner makes loud noises, so they will wear earplugs. They will fill out an MRI screening form before each MRI. Participants will also have magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG maps brain activity. It does this by recording the magnetic fields produced by naturally occurring electrical currents in the brain. For MEG, participants will lie down in the MEG room. Their eye movements may be recorded by a video camera. Participants will have behavior testing. They will practice typing random keys. Then they will repeatedly type a custom sequence that they see on a computer screen. Then they will take a 2-hour nap. Then they will type the same sequence again. Participants will have no more than 4 visits at the NIH over 3 months. Visits will last 2-4 hours each.
Description
Study Description: We will investigate the within-individual contribution of wakeful and sleep neural replay to motor skill consolidation in three groups: (a) young healthy subjects, (b) older healthy subjects and (c) patients with chronic stroke. Objectives: The primary aim is to determine the relative contribution of neural replay during wakeful rest and sleep to consolidation of a newly learned skill in young and older healthy volunteers, and in chronic stroke patients with magnetoencephalography (MEG). The secondary aim is to evaluate differences in replay rates between these subject co…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
* HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS: INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Age 18-35 (Arm 1) or 50-80 (Arms 2). * English speaking. * Clear right-hand dominance (\>74 on Edinburgh Handedness Inventory). * Normal neurological examination as determined by the screening clinician. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * HCPS affiliated NIH staff (i.e. - staff from our section). * Current pregnancy. * Contraindications for MRI or MEG. * Use of sleep medications within 24 hours of Experimental Session participation. * Severe or progressive neurological, psychological or medical condition as determined by the screening clinician. STROKE PATIE…
Interventions
- DeviceMRI system
MRI system - GE Discovery MR750 3T
- DeviceMEG system
MEG system The CTF MEG 275 Magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner system
Location
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland