NCT04312126Recruiting
The Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
Mechanisms Underlying the Beneficial Effects of Naps on Motor Learning
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 22 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
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.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 199 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 14 Mar 2020
- Start date
- 4 Mar 2021
- Primary completion date
- 30 Mar 2030
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Diseases
- Stroke
- NCT number
- NCT04312126
What you commit to
- Study type: Observational
- Planned participants: 199
- From 4 Mar 2021 to the primary completion date, 30 Mar 2030
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Use of sleep medications within 24 hours of Experimental Session participation.
Other illness
- Severe or progressive neurological, psychological or medical condition as determined by the screening clinician.
- STROKE PATIENTS:
- History of large stroke lesions in brainstem or cerebellum as determined by screening clinician
- Severe or progressive neurological disorder other than stroke (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis) as determined by the screening clinician
- Uncontrolled heart, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, metabolic, psychiatric, sleep, or endocrine disorders as determined by the screening clinician
Other
- HCPS affiliated NIH staff (i.e. - staff from our section).
- Current pregnancy.
- Contraindications for MRI or MEG.
- HCPS-affiliated NIH staff (i.e. - staff from our section).
- Current pregnancy
- Contraindications for MRI or MEG.
Who the study is looking for
- 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.
- Age 18 or older
- Willing and able to provide consent
- Experienced a stroke 6 months ago or more that affected at least one of the upper extremities at time of stroke diagnosis
- Ability to perform the study task as assessed during physical examination
- English-speaking
Criteria the registry did not label
- HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:
Age in the registry: 18 years to 80 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Bethesda | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.