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Neural Representations of Memory Transformation (MEM_TRANS)

NCT06862622 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-03-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Investigators overarching goal is to provide evidence for the link between altered spatiotemporal (where and when) neural mechanisms and the extent of changed memory maintenance in healthy older adults and to identify potential neural markers of compensatory function (cognitive resource). Investigators preliminary studies suggest that healthy older adults, compared to younger adults, benefit behaviorally from increased coupling between frontal and parietal brain waves when retrieving and updating well-consolidated visuomotor sequence memory via stronger top-down cognitive control of memory maintenance. Thus, Investigators central hypothesis is that the dynamics across cortical and subcortical regions (i.e., spatiotemporal representations) during transitions between different levels of memory stability indicate the efficiency of memory maintenance. The rationale is that while temporal and spatial neural signatures carry distinct mechanistic information, the joint definition of spatial and temporal representations will allow the differentiation of compensatory versus neurodegenerative mechanisms.

Conditions

  • Healthy Older Adults

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Computer-based visuomotor sequence learning and interference

The behavioral sequence learning and interference paradigm allows the experimental manipulation of sequence memory after long-term consolidation achieved through individualized longitudinal practice and serves the extraction of the primary behavioral outcome. The learning task requires participants to respond with keypresses on a standard computer keyboard of visual targets. Participants will implicitly (without being made aware) learn sequential regularities provided through the recurring order of cued keys contrasted with random keys. Participants will practice the learning task remotely over consecutive days until a stable performance plateau is reached. During this phase, data will be collected online, and behavioral change will be monitored in real time. Then participants will undergo the behavioral interference intervention, in which the initially learned sequence memory will be perturbed through (implicit) exposure to new sequential information (i.e., interference).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

    collaborator NIH

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Kirstin-Friederike Heise, PhD · Medical University of South Carolina

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-05-01
Primary Completion
2026-09-30
Completion
2026-09-30

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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 NCT06862622 on ClinicalTrials.gov