Healthy AgingNCT03328455
The Role of GABA-mediated Inhibition in Multisensory Temporal Processing & Postural Control in Older Adults
A study testing Knowledge-based training in people with Healthy Aging, run by University of Nevada, Reno.
Trial summary
In recent years evidence has accumulated on the association between age-related decline in multisensory temporal processing and postural control. This proposed project aims at examining GABA-mediated inhibition as the potential mechanism behind this link. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Aging
- What is being tested?
- Knowledge-based training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2027to 30 Nov 2031
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 65 and 80 (elderly group) and between 20 and 35 (young group)
Who cannot join
- History of epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
- History of head injury with loss of consciousness, brain surgery, or psychiatric disorders
- Early dementia or cognitive impairment
- Serious vision problems (including best-corrected binocular visual acuity worse than 20/25)
- Uncorrected hearing problems (pure tone threshold > 40 dB for 1000-2000 Hz)
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
In recent years evidence has accumulated on the association between age-related decline in multisensory temporal processing and postural control. This proposed project aims at examining GABA-mediated inhibition as the potential mechanism behind this link. Our overarching hypothesis is that changes in the excitatory-inhibitory balance with a reduction of GABAergic inhibition is a common mechanism underlying age-related multisensory and postural deficits potentially mediated by age-related reduction in network segregation. To test this hypothesis, we will assess the relationship between age-related multisensory/postural deficits and age-related reduction in GABA concentration in related brain areas and probe the role of GABA-mediated inhibition using cognitive training that specifically targets inhibitory functions. Our multimodal approach is innovative, and findings from this study has the potential to lead to the development of safe and effective rehabilitation protocols for older adults with impaired multisensory temporal integration and postural control.
Read the detailed description
The investigators will examine the effects of cognitive training in the elderly on multisensory temporal processing and postural control. The investigators will include 25 young participants and use their performance to establish age-related differences and target performance for training in the elderly. 50 elderly participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two training groups and will be asked to undergo 20 days (~30 mins/day) of inhibitory control training or knowledge-based training. Multisensory temporal processing abilities, postural stability and gait performance, brain GABA concentration, and resting-state based network segregation will be assessed before and immediately after training. Follow-up assessments will be carried out 30 days after training to examine the persistence of training effects.
Stimulus presentation. Visual and auditory stimuli will be generated using MATLAB and the psychophysics toolbox. Visual and auditory stimuli will be delivered via Display++ system and an AudioFile stimulus processor, respectively (Cambridge Research Systems). The use of these two devices allows for precise control of stimulus timing.
Inhibitory control training. Participants will be trained with tasks that involve both response withholding and rule switching. For example, participants will be asked to sort polygons based on features (e.g., shape or color) and will be asked to either provide or withhold sorting responses when presented with different cues. Rule-switching is introduced when participants must inhibit the "rule" used in the previous trial set and change the focus of their attention to a new sorting and/or inhibitory rule.
Knowledge-based training. This condition serves as the control. Participants will be presented with questions from different categories such as vocabulary, science, or geography and asked to select the correct answer from 4 alternatives within a certain time limit.
In both training conditions, task difficulty will progressively increase over the course of training based on participants' abilities. Pre- and post-training assessment of multisensory temporal processing abilities, postural stability and gait performance, brain GABA concentration, and resting-state based network segregation will be conducted.
- Conditions
- Healthy Aging
- Being tested
- Inhibitory control training, Knowledge-based training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Inhibitory control trainingBehavioural
Cognitive training is inhibitory task-related.
Knowledge-based trainingBehavioural
Training is not inhibitory task-related.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Inhibitory control training | Experimental | In the inhibitory control training condition, participants will be trained with tasks that involve both response withholding and rule switching. For example, participants will sort polygons based on features (e.g., shape or color) and will be asked to either provide or withhold sorting responses when presented with different cues. Rule-switching is introduced when participants must inhibit the "rule" used in the previous trial set and change the focus of their attention to a new sorting and/or inhibitory rule. Task difficulty will progressively increase over the course of training based on participants' abilities. Receives: Behavioral: Inhibitory control training |
| knowledge-based training | Sham comparator | The knowledge-based training condition serves as the control, in which participants will be presented with questions from different categories such as vocabulary, science, or geography and asked to select the correct answer from 4 alternatives within a certain time limit. Task difficulty will progressively increase over the course of training based on participants' abilities. Receives: Behavioral: Knowledge-based training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Multisensory temporal processing performance change
Change from pre-training performance
Measured: At the end of 20-day training
Multisensory temporal processing performance change maintenance
Change from pre-training performance
Measured: 30 days after training
Postural control and gait performance change
Change from pre-training performance
Measured: At the end of 20-day training
Postural control and gait performance change maintenance
Change from pre-training performance
Measured: 30 days after training
Brain GABA level change
Change from pre-training level
Measured: At the end of 20-day training
Brain GABA level change maintenance
Change from pre-training level
Measured: 30 days after training
Resting-state network segregation change
Change from pre-training level
Measured: At the end of 20-day training
Resting-state network segregation change maintenance
Change from pre-training level
Measured: 30 days after training
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Nov 2017
- Study start1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Nov 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy AgingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 50 elderly participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two training groups and will be asked to undergo 20 days of training (\~30 mins/day).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nevada, Reno
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Fang Jiang, University of Nevada, Reno
- Investigators
- Fang Jiang, Ph.D, Principal investigator, University of Nevada, Reno
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03328455
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1086690
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Oct 2017
- Last updated
- 1 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Results from proposed experiments will be reported either as group findings that do not identify individual participants, or by labeling the data of each participant with a unique code that does not include the participant's name or initials. De-identified individual participant data will be shared upon request and for research purpose only starting 1 year after publication.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Role of GABA-mediated Inhibition in Multisensory Temporal Processing & Postural Control in Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03328455
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1086690
- Conditions
- Healthy Aging
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nevada, RenoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Nov 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In recent years evidence has accumulated on the association between age-related decline in multisensory temporal processing and postural control. This proposed project aims at examining GABA-mediated inhibition as the potential mechanism behind this link. Our overarching hypothesis is that changes in the excitatory-inhibitory balance with a reduction of GABAergic inhibition is a common mechanism underlying age-related multisensory and postural deficits potentially mediated by age-related reduction in network segregation. To test this hypothesis, we will assess the relationship between age-related multisensory/postural deficits and age-related reduction in GABA concentration in related brain areas and probe the role of GABA-mediated inhibition using cognitive training that specifically targets inhibitory functions. Our multimodal approach is innovative, and findings from this study has the potential to lead to the development of safe and effective rehabilitation protocols for older adults with impaired multisensory temporal integration and postural control.
Detailed description
The investigators will examine the effects of cognitive training in the elderly on multisensory temporal processing and postural control. The investigators will include 25 young participants and use their performance to establish age-related differences and target performance for training in the elderly. 50 elderly participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two training groups and will be asked to undergo 20 days (~30 mins/day) of inhibitory control training or knowledge-based training. Multisensory temporal processing abilities, postural stability and gait performance, brain GABA concentration, and resting-state based network segregation will be assessed before and immediately after training. Follow-up assessments will be carried out 30 days after training to examine the persistence of training effects.
Stimulus presentation. Visual and auditory stimuli will be generated using MATLAB and the psychophysics toolbox. Visual and auditory stimuli will be delivered via Display++ system and an AudioFile stimulus processor, respectively (Cambridge Research Systems). The use of these two devices allows for precise control of stimulus timing.
Inhibitory control training. Participants will be trained with tasks that involve both response withholding and rule switching. For example, participants will be asked to sort polygons based on features (e.g., shape or color) and will be asked to either provide or withhold sorting responses when presented with different cues. Rule-switching is introduced when participants must inhibit the "rule" used in the previous trial set and change the focus of their attention to a new sorting and/or inhibitory rule.
Knowledge-based training. This condition serves as the control. Participants will be presented with questions from different categories such as vocabulary, science, or geography and asked to select the correct answer from 4 alternatives within a certain time limit.
In both training conditions, task difficulty will progressively increase over the course of training based on participants' abilities. Pre- and post-training assessment of multisensory temporal processing abilities, postural stability and gait performance, brain GABA concentration, and resting-state based network segregation will be conducted.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 50 elderly participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two training groups and will be asked to undergo 20 days of training (~30 mins/day).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Inhibitory control training | Experimental | Behavioral: Inhibitory control trainingIn the inhibitory control training condition, participants will be trained with tasks that involve both response withholding and rule switching. For example, participants will sort polygons based on features (e.g., shape or color) and will be asked to either provide or withhold sorting responses when presented with different cues. Rule-switching is introduced when participants must inhibit the "rule" used in the previous trial set and change the focus of their attention to a new sorting and/or inhibitory rule. Task difficulty will progressively increase over the course of training based on participants' abilities. |
| knowledge-based training | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Knowledge-based trainingThe knowledge-based training condition serves as the control, in which participants will be presented with questions from different categories such as vocabulary, science, or geography and asked to select the correct answer from 4 alternatives within a certain time limit. Task difficulty will progressively increase over the course of training based on participants' abilities. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Age between 65 and 80 (elderly group) and between 20 and 35 (young group)
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- History of epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
- History of head injury with loss of consciousness, brain surgery, or psychiatric disorders
- Early dementia or cognitive impairment
- Serious vision problems (including best-corrected binocular visual acuity worse than 20/25)
- Uncorrected hearing problems (pure tone threshold > 40 dB for 1000-2000 Hz)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Inhibitory control trainingCognitive training is inhibitory task-related. | Behavioural | Inhibitory control training |
| Knowledge-based trainingTraining is not inhibitory task-related. | Behavioural | knowledge-based training |
Primary outcome
Multisensory temporal processing performance change
Time frame: At the end of 20-day training
Change from pre-training performance
Multisensory temporal processing performance change maintenance
Time frame: 30 days after training
Change from pre-training performance
Postural control and gait performance change
Time frame: At the end of 20-day training
Change from pre-training performance
Postural control and gait performance change maintenance
Time frame: 30 days after training
Change from pre-training performance
Brain GABA level change
Time frame: At the end of 20-day training
Change from pre-training level
Brain GABA level change maintenance
Time frame: 30 days after training
Change from pre-training level
Resting-state network segregation change
Time frame: At the end of 20-day training
Change from pre-training level
Resting-state network segregation change maintenance
Time frame: 30 days after training
Change from pre-training level
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Results from proposed experiments will be reported either as group findings that do not identify individual participants, or by labeling the data of each participant with a unique code that does not include the participant's name or initials. De-identified individual participant data will be shared upon request and for research purpose only starting 1 year after publication.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Fang Jiang, Ph.D principal investigator
University of Nevada, Reno
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Knowledge-based training in people with Healthy Aging, run by University of Nevada, Reno.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Fang Jiang, Ph.D (775-682-8606, fangj@unr.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Multisensory temporal processing performance change (time frame: At the end of 20-day training). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 May 2026.