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The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning

NCT04312126 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 199

Last updated 2025-08-20

No results posted yet for this study

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.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

MRI system

MRI system - GE Discovery MR750 3T

DEVICE

MEG system

MEG system The CTF MEG 275 Magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner system

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Leonardo G Cohen, M.D. · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-03-04
Primary Completion
2026-08-01
Completion
2026-08-01

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04312126 on ClinicalTrials.gov