Influence of Brain Oscillation-Dependent TMS on Motor Function

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) · Sep 19, 2017

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can help improve movement in people who have had a stroke, as well as in healthy older adults. The goal is to better understand how to time this brain stimulation to make its effects more effective and consistent. The trial is open to adults aged 18 and older who had a stroke at least six months ago, as well as healthy volunteers aged 50 and over who can still move their arms and hands.

Participants can expect to visit the research site up to five times. During the first visit, they'll undergo a medical screening and experience TMS, which involves a brief electrical current passing through a coil on their scalp to stimulate brain activity. Participants will also have a simple test to measure muscle activity. Subsequent visits will include imaging tests like an MRI and further brain activity monitoring. The study is actively recruiting participants, and it’s important to note that certain medical conditions or devices (like pacemakers) may exclude someone from participating.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• * Healthy younger adults:
• • Ages 18 years to less than 50 years. (18 to 49)
• • Willingness/ability to provide informed consent.
• • Ability to induce a motor evoked potential in the muscle target of the upper extremity, as evaluated during the TMS Screening.
• * Healthy older adults:
• • Age 50 and over
• • Willingness/ability to provide informed consent.
• • Ability to induce a motor evoked potential in the muscle target of the upper extremity, as evaluated during the TMS Screening.
• * Stroke patients:
• • Age 18 and over.
• • Unilateral or bilateral upper limb paresis with the ability to voluntarily contract a finger, hand, wrist, or elbow muscle in the affected arm(s).
• • Stroke onset \> 6 months prior to participation.
• • Intact M1 sufficient to induce motor evoked potentials in the affected upper extremity following ipsilesional TMS, as evaluated during the TMS Screening.
• • Willingness/ability to provide informed consent.
• • If the investigator feels the individual s capacity to provide informed consent is questionable, the NIH Human Subjects Protection Unit (HSPU) will be requested to determine the individual s ability to consent.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• * Healthy younger and older adults:
• • Presence of severe neurological or medical disorder (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis).
• • History of seizures.
• • Chronic use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine or clozapine), tri-cyclic or other anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, or prescription stimulants.
• * TMS contraindications, such as:
• • Pacemaker, implanted pump, stimulator, cochlear implant, or metal objects inside the eye or skull.
• • Diagnosed severe hearing loss.
• • Current pregnancy.
• • Staff from our section.
• * Stroke patients:
• • Presence of severe neurological or medical disorder, other than stroke (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis).
• • History of brainstem stroke.
• • History of seizures.
• • Chronic use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine or clozapine), benzodiazepines, or prescription stimulants.
• * TMS contraindications, such as:
• • Pacemaker, implanted pump, stimulator, cochlear implant, or metal objects inside
• • the eye or skull.
• • ---Diagnosed severe hearing loss.
• • Current pregnancy.
• • Staff from our section.