Recruiting

Speech Motor LearningSpeech Motor Learning and Retention (Master Protocol)

Sponsor:

Yale University

Code:

NCT06467292

Conditions

Speech

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 40

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS)

Adaptation

Single pulse Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

fMRI

Study Details

Brief summary:

The overall goal of this research is to test a new model of speech motor learning, whose central hypothesis is that learning and retention are associated with plasticity not only in motor areas of the brain but in auditory and somatosensory regions as well.

Conditions

Speech

Study ID

NCT06467292

Start date

Oct 1, 2024

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

May 31, 2029

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Nov 30, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 40

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

Fluent English speakers
Right-handed
Normal hearing
No speech disorder or reading disability

Exclusion Criteria:

Cardiac pacemaker
Aneurysm clip
Heart or Vascular clip
Prosthetic valve
Metal implants
Metal in brain, skull, or spinal cord
Implanted neurostimulator
Medication infusion device
Cochlear implant or tinnitus (ringing in ears)
Personal and/or family history of epilepsy or other neurological disorders or history of head concussion
Psychoactive medications
Pregnancy

Study Design

Enrollment

330 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Speech Motor Learning and Retention Aim 1

Aim 1: Participants will perform learning tasks while receiving altered/unaltered auditory feedback with cTBS applied to the appropriate area of the brain following learning. Retention of learning is assessed 24 hours later.

experimental: Speech Motor Learning and Retention Aim 2

Aim 2: Participants will perform learning tasks combined with shifted auditory feedback. Motor cortical excitability will be measured using single-pulse TMS to elicit motor evoked potentials.

experimental: Speech Motor Learning and Retention Aim 3

Aim 3: Participants will have fMRI with behavioral measures of speech motor learning.

Interventions

continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS)

cTBS stimulation will be applied to different areas of the brain following learning. Stimulation will take place following learning in order to block motor memory retention.

Adaptation

Auditory adaptation in speech

Single pulse Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS will be delivered 10 times in each motor evoked potentials (MEP) recording block.

fMRI

To assess functional connectivity patterns between regions that predict learning.

Primary outcome measure

Speech motor learning [ Time Frame: Performance as measured at the end of learning (30 minute session) ]
Retention of learning [ Time Frame: 24 hours after learning (re-test lasts 30 minutes) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Michael Stern

2038656163 michael.stern@yale.edu

Locations

Yale Child Study Center

Recruiting

New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06520

More Information

Sponsor

Yale University

Last update posted

Aug 18, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

Speech Motor Learning
Retention

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Yale University on 2026-08-18.