Improvement of perception and learning through neurofeedback.
Summary description of the study
Neuroscience has long focused on understanding brain activity during task execution. Therefore, current training methods aim to maximize brain activation during a trained task. However, new findings suggest that this may not be an efficient way. Human subjects achieve maximum performance only when the brain network is in a state of high spontaneous interaction and communication between brain regions prior to training. We refer to this as a state of high 'network communication.' In this case, only minimal effort is required during the task. This necessitates new learning strategies aimed at inducing higher network communication before task execution. We have already shown that healthy individuals can learn to increase the network communication of motor areas (i.e., the areas that control movement) when they receive real-time feedback on their current activity, known as neurofeedback. With neurofeedback, participants receive continuous feedback on the state of their brain activity at that moment. Through this feedback, they can learn to change their own brain activity. Nevertheless, we still do not know whether this increase in network communication can lead to an improvement in learning new tasks. Because learning fine movements (so-called 'motor learning') is of primary importance for all aspects of life, the goal of the current study is to find out whether an increase in brain activity through neurofeedback can lead to improved motor learning.
(BASEC)
Intervention under investigation
We have seen in a previous study that participants are unable to improve their network communication from visual brain regions (i.e., regions that process light stimuli) through neurofeedback when the feedback is perceived with the eyes. Therefore, the goal of Experiment 1 is to find an alternative form of feedback through which participants can efficiently increase network communication. Specifically, participants receive neurofeedback in the form of sound, vibration on the skin, or both.
In Experiment 2, the neurofeedback modality from Experiment 1 will be adopted to test whether the increase in network communication through neurofeedback can lead to improved motor learning.
In both experiments, participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This MRI will help us increase the precision of the neurofeedback.
(BASEC)
Disease under investigation
We are investigating whether participants can enhance communication between brain regions through a technology called neurofeedback, and whether this enhancement can improve visual perception and the learning of fine movements. Only healthy subjects will be recruited for the study.
(BASEC)
- Signed informed consent - Age over 18 years - Normal or corrected vision - No neurological or psychiatric disorders - No regular use of benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium, etc.) or antipsychotics (e.g., Zyprexa, Seroquel, etc.) (BASEC)
Exclusion criteria
- Surgical intervention on the brain - Drug or alcohol abuse - Presence of non-MRI-compatible metals in the body (BASEC)
Trial sites
Bern
(BASEC)
Sponsor
Inselspital Bern
(BASEC)
Contact
Contact Person Switzerland
Adrian Guggisberg
+41 (0)22 372 3706
adrian.guggisberg@clutterhug.chUniversitätsspital Genf
(BASEC)
General Information
Division of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
(ICTRP)
General Information
Division of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
+41316323081+41316323081
adrian.guggisberg@clutterhug.ch(ICTRP)
Name of the authorising ethics committee (for multicentre studies, only the lead committee)
Ethics Committee Bern
(BASEC)
Date of authorisation
07.11.2022
(BASEC)
ICTRP Trial ID
NCT05732649 (ICTRP)
Official title (approved by ethics committee)
Improving visual perception and visuo-motor learning with neurofeedback of brain network interaction. (BASEC)
Academic title
Improving Visual Perception and Visuo-motor Learning With Neurofeedback of Brain Network Interaction. (ICTRP)
Public title
Improving Visual Perception and Visuo-motor Learning With Neurofeedback of Brain Network Interaction. (ICTRP)
Disease under investigation
Healthy (ICTRP)
Intervention under investigation
Behavioral: Auditory neurofeedbackBehavioral: Tactile neurofeedbackBehavioral: Auditory and tactile neurofeedbackBehavioral: Neurofeedback (ICTRP)
Type of trial
Interventional (ICTRP)
Trial design
Allocation: Randomized. Intervention model: Factorial Assignment. Primary purpose: Treatment. Masking: Single (Participant). (ICTRP)
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Signed informed consent
- Age at least 18 years old
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- No neurological or psychiatric diseases
- No regular consumption of benzodiazepines or neuroleptics
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any surgical intervention to the brain
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Presence of non-MRI safe metal in the body (ICTRP)
not available
Primary and secondary end points
Changes in network communication (ICTRP)
Visual perception;Visuo-motor learning (ICTRP)
Registration date
not available
Incorporation of the first participant
not available
Secondary sponsors
University of Bern (ICTRP)
Additional contacts
Adrian Guggisberg, Prof. Dr., Division of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland. (ICTRP)
Secondary trial IDs
2022-00976 (ICTRP)
Results-Individual Participant Data (IPD)
not available
Further information on the trial
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05732649 (ICTRP)
Results of the trial
Results summary
not available
Link to the results in the primary register
not available