Magnetic Stimulation of the Human Nervous System

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique to gather information about brain function. It is very useful when studying the areas of the brain related to motor activity (motor cortex, corticospinal tract, spinal cord and nerve roots). The procedure is conducted by transmitting a magnetic signal into the brain to stimulate an area of the body. Electrodes (small pieces of metal taped to areas of the body) are used in order to measure electrical activity. A magnetic signal is sent from a metal instrument held close to the patient's head, to an area of the brain responsible for motor activity of a certain area of the body. The electrodes pick up and record the electrical activity in the muscles.

This study will employ the use of TMS to diagnose neurological disorders that affect the motor cortex or the corticospinal tract. Normal subjects are sometimes studied to investigate normal activity of the nervous system and to train doctors in clinical neurophysiology and electrodiagnostic medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Key information

Conditions

Demyelinating Disease Central Nervous System Diseases Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Demyelinating Diseases Genetic Diseases, Inborn Healthy Lysosomal Storage Disease Lysosomal Storage Diseases Metabolic Diseases Metabolism, Inborn Errors Motor Neuron Disease Movement Disorder Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

About this study

This protocol outlines the use of magnetic stimulation as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected dysfunction of central motor pathways or nerve roots and as a tool to localize and characterize suspected corticospinal abnormalities in neurologic disorders and systemic disorders with neurological manifestations. The protocol is intended for clinical use.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation has been used for diagnosis of neurologic disorders since 1987. The principles of magnetic stimulation and its use for diagnosis are described in current textbooks of clinical neurophysiology as a routine procedure and should be included in the training program for fellows in clinical neurophysiology and electrodiagnostic medicine at NIH.

The magnetic stimuli are to be given as single or paired pulses at repetition rates less than 1 per second.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Adult patients with weakness or motor dysfunction.

Children and adolescents with corticospinal tract signs.

Normal volunteers, adults.

Normal volunteers, children aged 4-17.

Exclusion criteria

Pregnant women.

Subjects with implanted devices: pacemakers, medication pumps or defibrillators.

Subjects with metal in the cranium except the mouth.

Subjects with intracardiac lines.

Normal subjects with history of seizures.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

Stimulation of the Human Central and Peripheral Nervous System With a Magnetic Stimulator

Important dates

Study start: 1998
Study completion: 2005
First posted: Nov 4, 1999
Registry last updated: Mar 4, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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