Cortical Excitability and Typing Performance After Action Observation and Motor Execution

Официальное название

Comparison of Cortical Excitability and Typing Performance Across Action Observation, Motor Execution, and Control Conditions

Обзор

Goal: This study will aim to investigate the effects of different motor stimulation strategies-motor execution (ME) and action observation (AO)-on cortical excitability and typing performance in healthy individuals. Recruitment: A total of 60 healthy university students will be recruited and randomly assigned into three groups: Motor Execution group (n=20) Action Observation group (n=20) Control group (n=20) Evaluation Tools: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) using DEYMED DuoMAG XT will be used to measure Resting Motor Threshold (RMT), Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) Amplitude, and MEP Latency of the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. Online Typing Test will be used to assess typing speed (words per minute) and accuracy (percentage of correct characters). Intervention: The ME group will perform a 3-minute typing task. The AO group will observe a 3-minute first-person video of typing. The Control group will not receive any intervention between assessments. All participants will undergo TMS and typing assessments twice, once before and once after the intervention.

Подробное описание

This study will be designed as a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of motor execution (ME) and action observation (AO) on cortical excitability and fine motor performance, using typing as the target motor task.

A total of 60 healthy university students will be recruited from the University of Sharjah through convenience sampling. Participants will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and will provide informed consent prior to enrollment. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned into three groups (ME, AO, and Control), with stratification based on baseline typing proficiency to ensure balanced motor skill levels across groups.

All participants will undergo a pre-assessment session that will include a 3-minute typing task focused on the index finger and TMS testing targeting the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. TMS measures will include Resting Motor Threshold (RMT), MEP Amplitude, and MEP Latency.

During the intervention phase:

The ME group will perform the typing task for 3 minutes. The AO group will watch a 3-minute point-of-view video of the same typing task. The Control group will receive no intervention and will simply wait between the assessments.

After the intervention, participants in all groups will repeat the same typing task and TMS assessments in the post-assessment phase.

Typing performance will be evaluated using an online typing platform, capturing typing speed (words per minute) and accuracy (percentage of correct characters). TMS data will be collected using the DEYMED DuoMAG XT with consistent coil placement and stimulation parameters. Five reproducible MEPs will be recorded per participant per session to ensure reliability.

Вмешательства

• Поведенческое Motor Execution Typing Task
  Participants will perform a 3-minute typing task using custom-designed text that emphasizes index finger use. This task is designed to actively engage the motor cortex and will be administered in a controlled environment using standard posture and equipment. The task aims to elicit changes in cortical excitability, which will be measured pre- and post-intervention using TMS.
• Поведенческое Action Observation of Typing Task
  Participants will observe a 3-minute first-person video of an individual typing the standardized text. The video is designed to activate mirror neuron systems through visual engagement with a familiar motor task. It will be shown once in a controlled setting, and post-assessment of cortical excitability will follow immediately after.

Первичные конечные точки

• Change in Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) [Срок оценки: Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window)]
• Change in MEP Latency and Amplitude [Срок оценки: Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window)]
• Change in Typing Speed (Words Per Minute) [Срок оценки: Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window)]
• Change in Typing Accuracy [Срок оценки: Pre-intervention (Day 1) and Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention on Day 2, between 48 hours to a 3-week window)]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• Age between 18 and 26 years
• Healthy university students with no known neurological, psychiatric, or musculoskeletal conditions
• Intact motor functioning of the upper limbs
• Basic typing proficiency using a 10-finger typing method
• Ability to understand study procedures and provide informed consent

Критерии исключения

• Typing speed less than 16 words per minute
• Use of hunt-and-peck or single-finger typing style
• History of seizures or epilepsy
• Current use of neuroactive medications
• Presence of metallic implants in the head or upper body
• Any contraindications to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Left-handed individuals using non-standard typing techniques (unless provided with adapted materials)

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Да

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Двойное слепое

Основная цель

Фундаментальное исследование

Центры проведения

ОАЭ · 1 центр

• University of Sharjah — University City

Публикации

• Bhattacharya A, Mrudula K, Sreepada SS, Sathyaprabha TN, Pal PK, Chen R, Udupa K. An Overview of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Basic Principles and Clinical Applications. Can J Neurol Sci. 2022 Jul;49(4):479-492. doi: 10.1017/cjn.2021.158. Epub 2021 Jul 9. PMID 34238393
• Birdsong D. Plasticity, Variability and Age in Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism. Front Psychol. 2018 Mar 12;9:81. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00081. eCollection 2018. PMID 29593590
• Grilc N, Valappil AC, Tillin NA, Mian OS, Wright DJ, Holmes PS, Castelli F, Bruton AM. Motor imagery drives the effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability for coordinative lower-limb actions. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 6;14(1):13057. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63758-6. PMID 38844650
• Ma ZZ, Wu JJ, Hua XY, Zheng MX, Xing XX, Ma J, Li SS, Shan CL, Xu JG. Brain Function and Upper Limb Deficit in Stroke With Motor Execution and Imagery: A Cross-Sectional Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Front Neurosci. 2022 May 19;16:806406. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.806406. eCollection 2022. PMID 35663563

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT07009561 · TMStyping

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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