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Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06848530

Neurophysiology of the Basal Ganglia, Thalamus, and Cerebellum in Patients With Movement Disorders

The research study is being conducted to better understand parts of the human brain called the cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum in patients with movement disorders (such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, or ataxia). These brain structures are involved in movement disorders. This study attempts to better understand the brain electrical activity associated with these disorders, both in patients with and without deep brain stimulation (DBS). Recordings are made from the scalp with a noninvasive electrode and/or through the DBS stimulator if the participant has a stimulator model that is able to sense brain activity. These recordings are analyzed along with measures of movement disorder symptoms to identify brain signal signatures of symptoms.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Pennsylvania Hospital

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Charlotte Abeshaus

CONTACT

[email protected]

215-746-4850

Lauren Hammer, MD, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients 18 years of age and above
  • Any patient who has been diagnosed by a movement disorders neurologist with one of the following movement disorders:
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Dystonia
  • Tremor, including essential tremor
  • Cerebellar ataxia
  • Other hyperkinetic movement disorders, such as chorea and tics

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with dementia

Treatment and study plan

Prescribed Medications

Other

participant's movement disorders medications, prescribed by their treating physician

Deep brain stimulation adjustment

Other

Deep brain stimulator parameters may be adjusted within normal clinical limits

Primary outcomes

  1. Neural signal biomarkers

    Time frame: 5 years

    Spatiotemporal patterns of brain neural activity (neural signal biomarkers / neurophysiologic signatures) associated with movement disorders symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2030
First posted
Feb 27, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 14, 2026

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.

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