Serotonin and Motor Plasticity

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 4

Conditions: Healthy Controls

Treatments: Drug: Escitalopram; Drug: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03162185

MaxPlanckHCBS

Details and patient eligibility

About

With this study, the investigators aim to test whether acute administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) improves motor performance in a sequential motor learning task in comparison to placebo in healthy humans.

Full description

Microdialysis findings in animal models provide evidence for a monoaminergic augmentation of motor function. However, this evidence is largely limited to noradrenaline and dopamine, with little evidence to support a similar effect for serotonin. What remains to be tested therefore, is whether acute serotonergic administration induces neural or behavioral changes during motor learning also. Using a sample of 60 female participants (with the possible inclusion of male participants at a later date), the investigators aim to test the effects of a serotonergic challenge on motor learning and plasticity in healthy participants.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• female
• right-handed
• healthy
• has taken oral contraceptives (ovulation inhibitor) continuously for at least 3 months
• has read and agreed to study parameters

Exclusion criteria

• tattoos on head or neck
• non-removable metal on or in body
• alcohol abuse
• is currently taking medication
• smokes more than 3 cigarettes per day
• positive drug test
• pregnancy
• plays an instrument professionally
• plays videogames more than 2 hours per week
• is a professional athlete
• suffers from migraines
• has taken part in another study, where motor learning skills and/or medication is a factor, in the last 3 months
• heart rhythm disorders (long QT)
• hypertension
• calcium or magnesium deficiency
• neurological disorders
• chronic metabolic disorders
• liver or kidney diseases
• immunodeficiency
• endocrine disorders
• psychiatric disorders
• tumors
• injuries to the head and brain

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

60 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Interventional group

Experimental group

Description:

Half of the participants (n = 30) will receive 20mg of the SSRI Escitalopram.

Treatment:

Drug: Escitalopram

Control group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Half of the participants ( n= 30) will receive the placebo.

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo