Brain Research Assessing Impacts of Neurophysiological Processing Speed Training in Veterans

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
Ages: 18-35 (Younger Group); Ages 50-80 (Healthy Older Group); Ages 50-85 (persons with a history of mild traumatic brain injury)
* English speaking
* Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI):
* A history of mTBI confirmed by the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method-Short Form (including a requirement that the mTBI caused a loss of consciousness lasting less than 30 min).
* An additional note will be made for Veterans with mTBI with a report of objective or subjective cognitive decline not meeting the criteria (i.e.- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) >23) for impairment
Exclusion Criteria:
Failure to provide informed consent
* Metal of foreign objects in the body that would interfere with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMS)
* History of penetrating head wounds or a diagnosis of moderate/severe TBI
* Participants with significant visual field deficits were excluded, as were those with active suicidal ideation
  * Suicidal ideation will be assessed with the Columbia suicidality scale (C-SSRS)
  * Participants with active ideation will be referred to the Veteran Crisis Line (988) (or walked) to the Front Door program at the Birmingham East clinic
* Participation in a concurrent clinical trial that could affect study outcome (however, participation in standard treatments e.g. occupational therapy or use of prescribed medications such as antidepressants is acceptable)
* Smoker > 1 pack per day
* Significant cognitive impairment defined as \<23 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia
* Visual (corrected acuity \<20/80) and motor capacity (completion of 9-hole pegboard) to use a computerized intervention
* In-patient status
* Severe visual impairment, which would preclude completion of the assessments
* Progressive, degenerative neurologic disease, e.g., Parkinsons Disease, multiple sclerosis
* Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases, e.g., awaiting joint replacement Actively taking GABAergic agonist/antagonist medication (benzodiazepines, gabapentin, etc.)
* Terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 12 months, as determined by a physician
* Other significant co-morbid diseases that would impair the ability to participate, e.g. renal failure on hemodialysis, severe psychiatric disorder (e.g. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), heavy alcohol use (>15 drinks per week); persons with depression will not be excluded
* Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss, speech disorder or language barrier

The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.

Eligibility criteria as of 2025-08-29