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Brain Plasticity of Verbal Memory in the Blind
NCT00059189 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
This study will examine whether blind people develop changes in the brain that improve memory function. Previous studies have shown that blind people, on average, perform better in memory tasks than sighted people. A possible reason for this is that parts of the brain that process visual information in sighted individuals are engaged in processing mnemonic (remembering) information in blind people. Blind and sighted people 18 years of age and older are eligible for this study. Healthy, sighted individuals may participate in Part 1 of the study, which is designed to find appropriate words to use in tests for Part 2 of the study. Part 2 will include sighted people and blind people. It will examine whether the (visual) brain in blind people is processing mnemonic information in a way that helps with day-to-day memory functions. Blind participants in this study must have lost their sight by age 4. Candidates will be screened with a medical interview and examination and a brief test of short-term and long-term verbal memory. Sighted patients will also be tested for visual memory and for handedness. Part 1 - Word Recognition Testing (2 sessions) * Session 1: Participants listen to a number of words over a loudspeaker and try to remember them for a memory test that will be given 30 minutes later. For the test, subjects listen to words again and press one of three buttons as quickly as possible after hearing the word. The buttons signal whether the subject does or does not recognize the word with a 1) high level of confidence or 2) low level of confidence. * Session 2: Participants hear a noun over a loudspeaker and have to find an appropriate verb for it, such as the verb (read) for the noun (book). Part 2 - MRI Scanning and TMS Experiments (5 - 7 sessions) * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Participants perform the same procedures as described above for Part 1 while undergoing MRI of the brain. For this test, the subject lies on a table inside the MRI scanner - a na
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE Magstim Rapid Magnetic Stimulator
Study Locations (1)
Maryland
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — Bethesda
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 85 participants |
| Start Date | 2003-04 |
| Est. Completion | 2005-04 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT00059189
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT00059189 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as an unspecified phase, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 85 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which has 339 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Blindness appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention — of which Magstim Rapid Magnetic Stimulator is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT00059189 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Maryland. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT00059189 about?
NCT00059189 is a clinical study titled "Brain Plasticity of Verbal Memory in the Blind". This study will examine whether blind people develop changes in the brain that improve memory function. Previous studies have shown that blind people, on average, perform better in memory tasks than sighted people. A possible reason for this is that parts of the brain that process visual information...
What is the current status of trial NCT00059189?
This trial is currently completed. The enrollment target is 85 participants. The study started on 2003-04. Estimated completion is 2005-04.
What conditions does trial NCT00059189 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Blindness. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT00059189?
The interventions under investigation include: Magstim Rapid Magnetic Stimulator (DEVICE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT00059189?
This trial is sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which has 339 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT00059189 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Maryland. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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