Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke)NCT07345481
Stimulus Equivalence Learning in Acquired Brain Injury.
An observational study of Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke), run by Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten at 1 site in Netherlands.
Trial summary
Stimulus Equivalence Learning (SEL) is a form of learning in which stimuli (such as words, pictures, or sounds) become linked to one another in memory, even though this specific connection has not been directly taught. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke)
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNetherlands
- Study dates
- 29 Jan 2026to Jul 2026
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Day
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: ABI patients (>3 months post-injury), including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, encephalitis, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
Who may be able to join
- ABI patients (>3 months post-injury), including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, encephalitis, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten
Arnhem, Gelderland, 6813 GG
Edo Grevers, MSc., +31620839323, e.grevers@klimmendaal.nl
About this study
Official title: The Principle of Stimulus Equivalence Learning and Its Neuropsychological Correlates in Adults With Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
Stimulus Equivalence Learning (SEL) is a form of learning in which stimuli (such as words, pictures, or sounds) become linked to one another in memory, even though this specific connection has not been directly taught. In a typical SEL task, two relations are taught explicitly (A→B and A→C), and the untrained relation (B→C) is then tested. This indirect relation is not intentionally or consciously learned and is considered a form of implicit learning. The principle of stimulus equivalence learning is still rarely applied in cognitive rehabilitation after acquired brain injury (ABI), with the exception of a few small (N=1) treatment studies that have shown positive effects. However, it remains unclear to what extent ABI may affect the ability to acquire stimulus equivalence.
- Conditions
- Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke)
- Keywords
- acquired brain injury, implicit memory
- Medical subject headings
- Brain Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| healthy controls | Not described | |
| acquired brain injury | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Modified Rutgers Equivalence Learning Task (mRAET)
The original RAET is an experimental paradigm in which faces have to be paired with colored fish. For the current study, this task has been adapted into a more ecologically valid version focused on medication intake, in which relationships are learned between the shape of a pill, the function of the pill, the time of intake, and the (fictional) brand name.
Measured: Day 1
Secondary outcomes (7)
Location Learning Test (LLT)
The LLT is a test that can be used to measure episodic spatial memory for object locations. Normalized scores for immediate and delayed spatial memory are computed (percentiles 0-100).
Measured: Day 1
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV-NL digit span (WAIS-IV-NL DS)
The digit span is a measure of verbal working memory. Normalized standard scores can be computed (range 0-19, mean: 10, standard deviation: 3).
Measured: Day 1
Everyday memory questionnaire-revised (EMQ-R)
This is a 13-item scale of the everyday memory functioning.
Measured: Day 1
Trial Making Test
The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test that measures processing speed, visual attention, and task switching.
Measured: Day 1
Stroop
The Stroop Test is a cognitive task that measures selective attention, processing speed, and the ability to inhibit automatic responses. Participants are shown color words printed in incongruent ink colors (e.g., the word "red" printed in blue ink) and must name the ink color rather than read the word. The interference effect-slower or less accurate responses-reflects challenges in cognitive control and response inhibition.
Measured: Day 1
Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)
The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT) is a verbal learning and memory task in which a list of 15 unrelated words is read aloud over several trials. The participant is asked to recall as many words as possible after each trial, and later again after a delay. The test assesses immediate recall, learning ability, retention, and recognition memory.
Measured: Day 1
Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT)
Participants respond to the location of a black circle that appears in one of four screen positions by pressing the corresponding response key as quickly and accurately as possible. After 12 practice trials, the task consists of 8 blocks of 60 trials.
Blocks 1-6 contain a fixed repeating sequence of locations (not disclosed to participants). Block 7 contains a different sequence, followed by a return to the original sequence in Block 8. After the task, participants complete questions assessing explicit awareness of the sequence.
Implicit learning is indicated by faster reaction times in Blocks 6 and 8 (repeated sequence) compared to Block 7 (irregular sequence).
Measured: Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jan 2026
- Study start29 Jan 2026
- Primary completionJun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke)Studies 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 1 Day
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten
- Sponsor type
- Research network
- Collaborators
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07345481
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KNP23PROJ2
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 22 May 2026
- 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 22 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Principle of Stimulus Equivalence Learning and Its Neuropsychological Correlates in Adults With Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07345481
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KNP23PROJ2
- Conditions
- Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke)
- Keywords
- acquired brain injury, implicit memory
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Klimmendaal RevalidatiespecialistenResearch network
- Collaborators
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
- Study start
- 29 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jan 2026 (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.
Stimulus Equivalence Learning (SEL) is a form of learning in which stimuli (such as words, pictures, or sounds) become linked to one another in memory, even though this specific connection has not been directly taught. In a typical SEL task, two relations are taught explicitly (A→B and A→C), and the untrained relation (B→C) is then tested. This indirect relation is not intentionally or consciously learned and is considered a form of implicit learning. The principle of stimulus equivalence learning is still rarely applied in cognitive rehabilitation after acquired brain injury (ABI), with the exception of a few small (N=1) treatment studies that have shown positive effects. However, it remains unclear to what extent ABI may affect the ability to acquire stimulus equivalence.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 1 Day
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| healthy controls | – | – |
| acquired brain injury | – | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- ABI patients (>3 months post-injury), including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, encephalitis, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- ABI patients (>3 months post-injury), including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, encephalitis, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Modified Rutgers Equivalence Learning Task (mRAET)
Time frame: Day 1
The original RAET is an experimental paradigm in which faces have to be paired with colored fish. For the current study, this task has been adapted into a more ecologically valid version focused on medication intake, in which relationships are learned between the shape of a pill, the function of the pill, the time of intake, and the (fictional) brand name.
7 secondary outcomes
Location Learning Test (LLT)
Time frame: Day 1
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV-NL digit span (WAIS-IV-NL DS)
Time frame: Day 1
Everyday memory questionnaire-revised (EMQ-R)
Time frame: Day 1
Trial Making Test
Time frame: Day 1
Stroop
Time frame: Day 1
Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)
Time frame: Day 1
Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT)
Time frame: Day 1
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 22 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke), run by Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten at 1 site in Netherlands.
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 2 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 May 2026. 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 Netherlands. 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?
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 Edo Grevers, MSc. (+31620839323, e.grevers@klimmendaal.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Modified Rutgers Equivalence Learning Task (mRAET) (time frame: Day 1). 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 22 May 2026.