Facial DiscriminationNCT03832101
Improvement of Facial Recognition Ability and Multitasking
A study testing MATB in people with Facial Discrimination and Multitasking, run by National University of Singapore at 1 site in Singapore.
Trial summary
This study aims to determine the efficacy of training on facial recognition and multitasking. The researchers hypothesize that participants who have undergone facial recognition and multitasking training will demonstrate an improved facial recognition ability and performance in multi-tasking. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Facial Discrimination, Multitasking
- What is being tested?
- MATB
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSingapore
- Study dates
- 13 Feb 2018to Dec 2020
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 21 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must be over 21 if they are not from NUS or Yale-NUS. NUS or Yale-NUS students over 18 can also participate. All participants are expected to be fluent in English.
Who cannot join
- Participants with a history of perceptual or memory deficit will be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Singapore1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
National University of Singapore
Singapore
Christopher L Asplund, Ph.D., +6566013327, chris.asplund@yale-nus.edu.sg
About this study
This study aims to determine the efficacy of training on facial recognition and multitasking. The researchers hypothesize that participants who have undergone facial recognition and multitasking training will demonstrate an improved facial recognition ability and performance in multi-tasking. The researchers also hypothesize that measures of sustained and selective attention will predict performance on multitasking tasks. This work sets the ground work for future research into if and how facial recognition and multitasking ability can be improved.
Read the detailed description
There has been evidence showing improvements on performance on various cognitive tasks after training, but evidence on multitasking and facial recognition is lacking. Both multi-tasking and facial recognition are crucial for military and law enforcement personnel, and the respective organizations can consider these abilities during their respective recruitment and training processes.
This study will test whether training on multi-tasking and facial recognition tasks can improve an individual's performance. Additionally, it will test whether their performance on other measures of attention and multitasking can predict changes post-training.
Participants will go through 5 testing sessions span over 5 days. For each session, participants will complete a multitasking task and a facial recognition task. Participants are hypothesized to improve in their performance after 5 consecutive days of training on these 2 tasks. Additionally, participants will also complete 2 attention tasks, 1 face memory task, and 1 other multi-tasking task only on the first day. Both multitasking tasks are expected to correlate at baseline, and performance on the attention tasks may predict performance on multitasking tasks as these tasks require sustained and selective attention. A face memory task will also be used to account for each individual's baseline facial recognition ability.
- Conditions
- Facial Discrimination, Multitasking
- Being tested
- MATB
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MATBBehavioural
MATB has two multitasking tasks and two attention tasks. The two multitasking tasks evaluates performance on multiple cognitively demanding assignments in both the auditory and visual domains. The two attention tasks measures performance in sustained and selective attention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Difficult face discrimination | Experimental | All participants will complete 5 training and testing sessions in total, once a day, over the course of a week (weekdays). On the first day, participants will go through an initial test (Cambridge Face Memory Test; approximately 15 minutes) to determine their baseline facial recognition ability. Thereafter, participants in the Difficult group will undergo training involving discriminations between highly similar faces. Each participant's involvement in the study will last only 5 consecutive days. The total participation time is 7.5 hours per participant. Receives: Behavioral: MATB |
| Easy face discrimination | Experimental | All participants will complete 5 training and testing sessions in total, once a day, over the course of a week (weekdays). On the first day, participants will go through an initial test (Cambridge Face Memory Test; approximately 15 minutes) to determine their baseline facial recognition ability. Those in the Easy group will discriminate between dissimilar faces. Each participant's involvement in the study will last only 5 consecutive days. The total participation time is 7.5 hours per participant. Receives: Behavioral: MATB |
| Control | Active comparator | All participants will complete 5 training and testing sessions in total, once a day, over the course of a week (weekdays). On the first day, participants will go through an initial test (Cambridge Face Memory Test; approximately 15 minutes) to determine their baseline facial recognition ability. Those in the Control group will perform a simple face-matching exercise. This training will last for approximately 30 minutes. Each participant's involvement in the study will last only 5 consecutive days. The total participation time is 7.5 hours per participant. Receives: Behavioral: MATB |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Facial recognition performance change during training
The crucial measure is percent correct recognition of target faces learned on the first day. These faces are either presented in isolation (Is this a target face? Yes/No) or with other faces (Which is the target?). Performance is measured on each day of training to establish learning trajectories.
Measured: Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Multi-tasking performance change during training
The crucial measures are speed and accuracy on each component task of the MATB (Multi-Attribute Task Battery; Comstock \& Arnegard, 1992). Performance is measured on each day of training to establish learning trajectories.
Measured: Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Feb 2019
- Study start13 Feb 2018
- Primary completionDec 2020 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2020 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Facial DiscriminationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National University of SingaporeThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National University of Singapore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Christopher L. Asplund, National University of Singapore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03832101
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- S-17-180
- Status last verified
- Feb 2019
- First submitted
- 2 Feb 2019
- Last updated
- 6 Feb 2019
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Feb 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Improvement of Facial Recognition Ability and Multitasking
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03832101
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- S-17-180
- Conditions
- Facial Discrimination, Multitasking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National University of SingaporeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Feb 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2020 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2020 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Feb 2019 (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.
This study aims to determine the efficacy of training on facial recognition and multitasking. The researchers hypothesize that participants who have undergone facial recognition and multitasking training will demonstrate an improved facial recognition ability and performance in multi-tasking. The researchers also hypothesize that measures of sustained and selective attention will predict performance on multitasking tasks. This work sets the ground work for future research into if and how facial recognition and multitasking ability can be improved.
Detailed description
There has been evidence showing improvements on performance on various cognitive tasks after training, but evidence on multitasking and facial recognition is lacking. Both multi-tasking and facial recognition are crucial for military and law enforcement personnel, and the respective organizations can consider these abilities during their respective recruitment and training processes.
This study will test whether training on multi-tasking and facial recognition tasks can improve an individual's performance. Additionally, it will test whether their performance on other measures of attention and multitasking can predict changes post-training.
Participants will go through 5 testing sessions span over 5 days. For each session, participants will complete a multitasking task and a facial recognition task. Participants are hypothesized to improve in their performance after 5 consecutive days of training on these 2 tasks. Additionally, participants will also complete 2 attention tasks, 1 face memory task, and 1 other multi-tasking task only on the first day. Both multitasking tasks are expected to correlate at baseline, and performance on the attention tasks may predict performance on multitasking tasks as these tasks require sustained and selective attention. A face memory task will also be used to account for each individual's baseline facial recognition ability.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Difficult face discrimination | Experimental | Behavioral: MATBAll participants will complete 5 training and testing sessions in total, once a day, over the course of a week (weekdays). On the first day, participants will go through an initial test (Cambridge Face Memory Test; approximately 15 minutes) to determine their baseline facial recognition ability. Thereafter, participants in the Difficult group will undergo training involving discriminations between highly similar faces. Each participant's involvement in the study will last only 5 consecutive days. The total participation time is 7.5 hours per participant. |
| Easy face discrimination | Experimental | Behavioral: MATBAll participants will complete 5 training and testing sessions in total, once a day, over the course of a week (weekdays). On the first day, participants will go through an initial test (Cambridge Face Memory Test; approximately 15 minutes) to determine their baseline facial recognition ability. Those in the Easy group will discriminate between dissimilar faces. Each participant's involvement in the study will last only 5 consecutive days. The total participation time is 7.5 hours per participant. |
| Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: MATBAll participants will complete 5 training and testing sessions in total, once a day, over the course of a week (weekdays). On the first day, participants will go through an initial test (Cambridge Face Memory Test; approximately 15 minutes) to determine their baseline facial recognition ability. Those in the Control group will perform a simple face-matching exercise. This training will last for approximately 30 minutes. Each participant's involvement in the study will last only 5 consecutive days. The total participation time is 7.5 hours per participant. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participants must be over 21 if they are not from NUS or Yale-NUS. NUS or Yale-NUS students over 18 can also participate. All participants are expected to be fluent in English.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participants with a history of perceptual or memory deficit will be excluded.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| MATBMATB has two multitasking tasks and two attention tasks. The two multitasking tasks evaluates performance on multiple cognitively demanding assignments in both the auditory and visual domains. The two attention tasks measures performance in sustained and selective attention | Behavioural | Control, Difficult face discrimination, Easy face discrimination |
Primary outcome
Facial recognition performance change during training
Time frame: Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The crucial measure is percent correct recognition of target faces learned on the first day. These faces are either presented in isolation (Is this a target face? Yes/No) or with other faces (Which is the target?). Performance is measured on each day of training to establish learning trajectories.
Multi-tasking performance change during training
Time frame: Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The crucial measures are speed and accuracy on each component task of the MATB (Multi-Attribute Task Battery; Comstock \& Arnegard, 1992). Performance is measured on each day of training to establish learning trajectories.
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Feb 2019.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Facial Discrimination
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Children's Intensive Care Outcomes and Health Inequities: A Mixed Methods Study of Social Determinants in Paediatric Intensive Care in England
Paediatric Intensive Care
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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MATB in people with Facial Discrimination and Multitasking, run by National University of Singapore at 1 site in Singapore.
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 1 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Feb 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Singapore. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. 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?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Christopher L Asplund, Ph.D. (+65660 3327, chris.asplund@yale-nus.edu.sg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Facial recognition performance change during training (time frame: Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The study lists 2 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 6 Feb 2019.