Recruiting

Neuroplasticity

Sponsor:

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Code:

NCT06656819

Conditions

Healthy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 39

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Magstim Rapid2

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this project is to test our central hypothesis that the spinal cord neuroplasticity in females will be modulated by the level of estradiol concentration. under aim 1 we will determine the influence of estradiol fluctuations on spinal circuit excitability post afferent (sensory) mediated subthreshold motor priming in young healthy females and males. We will use an established repetitive peripheral nerve electrical stimulation with a stimulation intensity below the motor threshold to prime the spinal motor circuits. under aim 2 we seek to characterize the input output property of spinal circuit excitability after descending drive (motor) mediated priming in young healthy male participants. in aim 3 we will examine the influence of estradiol fluctuations on descending drive mediated motor priming in young healthy females.

Conditions

Healthy

Study ID

NCT06656819

Start date

Jul 1, 2020

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 39

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

FEMALES

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 18-39 years
  • Eumenorrheic (regular monthly cycles of 24-35 days)
  • Moderately active (less than 7 hours of vigorous physical activity per week)
  • History of pregnancy is allowed if patient is in post-lactation phase

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of musculoskeletal or orthopedic injury of the spine, hip, knee, ankle or foot
  • History of neurological injury of the peripheral or central nervous system
  • Current smoker
  • History of disordered eating
  • History of stress fracture in the lower limb
  • History of a connective tissue disorder (Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos disease)
  • Pacemaker, metal implants in the head and spine region
  • Pregnancy
  • On a hormonal contraceptive regimen (oral, transdermal or vaginal)
  • History of menstrual dysfunction (primary or secondary amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, anovulatory cycles, polycystic ovarian disease)
  • Started or stopped taking oral contraceptives within the previous 6 months
  • Exercise vigorously more than 7 hours per week or currently participating in competitive level sports.

MALES

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 18-39
  • Moderately active (less than 7 hours of vigorous physical activity per week)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of musculoskeletal or orthopedic injury of the spine, hip, knee, ankle or foot
  • History of neurological injury of the peripheral or central nervous system
  • Current smoker
  • History of disordered eating
  • History of stress fracture in the lower limb
  • History of a connective tissue disorder (Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos disease)
  • Pacemaker, metal implants in the head and spine region

Study Design

Enrollment

50 participants

Anticipated

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

Healthy Females

Healthy Males (control)

Interventions

Magstim Rapid2

AIM 1: Investigate the estradiol effect on spinal circuit excitability post afferent (sensory) mediated subthreshold motor priming in young healthy women and men.

AIM 2: Characterize the Input output property of spinal circuit excitability following descending drive (motor) mediate priming in young healthy participants

AIM 3: Examine the estradiol effect on spinal circuit excitability following descending drive (motor) mediated priming in young healthy females

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in Spinal circuit excitability [ Time Frame: Baseline 1, Post-60mins after peripheral nerve stimulation ]
  • Change in Motor neuron excitability [ Time Frame: Baseline 2, Post-60mins after priming ]
  • Change in spinal reflex expression [ Time Frame: Baseline 2, Post-60mins after priming ]
  • Change in descending drive mediated motor priming [ Time Frame: Baseline 2, Post-60mins after priming ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Yu-Chen Chung, PT, Ph.D.

214-648-8838yu-chen.chung@utsouthwestern.edu

Subaryani Soedirdjo, Ph.D.

subaryani.soedirdjo@utsouthwestern.edu

Locations

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Recruiting

Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390

More Information

Sponsor

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Last update posted

Mar 30, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center on 2026-03-30.