Actively Recruiting
The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
Led by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Updated on 2025-08-20
199
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
282 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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
Official Title
The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18 to 35 or 50 to 80 for healthy volunteers
- English speaking
- Clear right-hand dominance (greater than 74 on Edinburgh Handedness Inventory) for healthy volunteers
- Normal neurological examination for healthy volunteers
- Age 18 or older for stroke patients
- Willing and able to provide consent for stroke patients
- Experienced a stroke 6 months ago or more affecting at least one upper extremity for stroke patients
- Ability to perform the study task as assessed during physical examination for stroke patients
- English speaking for stroke patients
You will not qualify if you...
- NIH staff affiliated with HCPS (staff from the study section)
- Current pregnancy
- Contraindications for MRI or MEG
- Use of sleep medications within 24 hours before experimental sessions for healthy volunteers
- Severe or progressive neurological, psychological, or medical conditions as determined by screening clinician
- History of large stroke lesions in brainstem or cerebellum for stroke patients
- Severe or progressive neurological disorder other than stroke (e.g., Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis) for stroke patients
- Uncontrolled heart, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, metabolic, psychiatric, sleep, or endocrine disorders for stroke patients
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
T
Tasneem F Malik, C.R.N.P.
CONTACT
L
Leonardo G Cohen, M.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
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