Learning linked items after acquired brain injury
The Principle of Stimulus Equivalence Learning and Its Neuropsychological Correlates in Adults With Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten · NCT07345481
This project tries to see if people more than three months after a stroke or other acquired brain injury can form linked memories using stimulus equivalence learning tasks.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten (network) |
| Locations | 1 site (Arnhem, Gelderland) |
| Trial ID | NCT07345481 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is an observational study that measures whether people with acquired brain injury (ABI) can acquire stimulus equivalence learning, an implicit form of learning where untrained relationships between stimuli emerge after training on related pairs. Participants complete tasks in which two relations (A→B and A→C) are taught and the untrained relation (B→C) is tested to detect implicit learning. The study includes ABI patients (stroke, TBI, tumor, encephalitis, OHCA) at least three months post-injury and healthy controls, excluding people with neurodegenerative disease, severe psychiatric illness, severe sensory or language problems, or severe cognitive impairment that prevents testing. Testing is performed in person at Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten in Arnhem in collaboration with the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults at least three months after an acquired brain injury (including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, encephalitis, or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest) who have sufficient Dutch language ability and no severe sensory, language, or cognitive impairments that prevent test participation.
Not a fit: People with progressive neurodegenerative disorders, severe aphasia or sensory loss that prevents testing, severe psychiatric conditions, or insufficient Dutch are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to preserved implicit learning mechanisms that therapists might use to design new rehabilitation techniques to support memory and communication after ABI.
How similar studies have performed: A few very small case-based reports (often single-patient) have shown positive effects using stimulus equivalence approaches, but larger systematic evidence in ABI is currently lacking.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: ABI patients (\>3 months post-injury), including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, encephalitis, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Exclusion Criteria: Neurodegenerative disorders Severe psychiatric disorders (including suicidality) Insufficient command of the Dutch language Severe cognitive impairments, aphasia, or visual or hearing problems that make test administration impossible An additional exclusion criterion for controls was any medical condition that could lead to cognitive impairment beyond normal aging, including stroke, TBI, brain tumor, or other forms of brain injury.
Where this trial is running
Arnhem, Gelderland
- Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten — Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Edo Grevers, MSc.
- Email: e.grevers@klimmendaal.nl
- Phone: +31620839323
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Acquired Brain Injury, acquired brain injury, implicit memory