Neuromodulation and Language Acquisition (Project Stage Ia)
Information source: University Hospital Muenster
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on June 20, 2008
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Healthy
Intervention: levodopa (Drug); rivastigmine (Drug); pergolid (Drug); modafinil (Drug)
Phase: Phase 4
Status: Terminated
Sponsored by: University Hospital Muenster Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Caterina Breitenstein, PhD, Study Director, Affiliation: Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster
Stefan Knecht, MD, Study Chair, Affiliation: Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether levodopa, pergolid, rivastigmine, or
modafinil are effective in boosting semantic language acquisition in healthy subjects.
Clinical Details
Official title: Improved Language Acquisition Through Neuromodulation, Project Stage Ia
Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study
Primary outcome: Boost in language learning success through neuromodulation
Secondary outcome: Stability of language learning success
Detailed description:
Our prior work shows that d-amphetamine and the dopamine precursor levodopa markedly improve
word learning success in healthy subjects. In this randomized, placebo-controlled,
double-blind clinical trial, we probe whether a mixed d1/d2 dopamine agonist (pergolid) or
cholinergic neuromodulation (rivastigmine) or a general centrally arousing substance
(modafinil) will yield a learning enhancement comparable to using levodopa in healthy
subjects.
Our results show that the dopamine agonist pergolide impaired learning in healthy subjects
compared to placebo, whereas cholinergic neuromodulation had no effect.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 20 Years.
Maximum age: 35 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy subjects
- 20-35 years old
- Right handedness
- Left language dominance (as assessed by functional transcranial Doppler
ultrasonography [fTCD])
Exclusion Criteria:
- Neurological/psychiatric/metabolic/cardiac disorders
- Asthma
- Known allergic reactions to one of the experimental drugs
- Other drugs affecting the central nervous system
- Leisure drug ingestion during the past 4 weeks (urine test)
- Smoking cessation during the past 2 weeks
- > 6 cups of coffee or energy drinks per day
- > 10 cigarettes per day
- > 50 grams of alcohol per day
Locations and Contacts
Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Nordrhein-Westfalen 48129, Germany
Additional Information
Homepage of Dr. Breitenstein
Related publications: Knecht S, Breitenstein C, Bushuven S, Wailke S, Kamping S, Floel A, Zwitserlood P, Ringelstein EB. Levodopa: faster and better word learning in normal humans. Ann Neurol. 2004 Jul;56(1):20-6. Breitenstein C, Wailke S, Bushuven S, Kamping S, Zwitserlood P, Ringelstein EB, Knecht S. D-amphetamine boosts language learning independent of its cardiovascular and motor arousing effects. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004 Sep;29(9):1704-14. Breitenstein C, Floel A, Korsukewitz C, Wailke S, Bushuven S, Knecht S. A shift of paradigm: From noradrenergic to dopaminergic modulation of learning? J Neurol Sci. 2006 Jun 29; [Epub ahead of print] Korsukewitz C, Breitenstein C, Schomacher M, Knecht S. [Present status and future possibilities of adjuvant pharmacotherapy for aphasia.] Nervenarzt. 2006 Apr;77(4):403-15. German.
Starting date: March 2004
Ending date: April 2005
Last updated: September 7, 2006
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