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NCT Number: NCT05179187

Non-invasive Brain Mapping of Movement Facilitation in Parkinson's Disease

Several strategies or contexts help patients with Parkinson's disease to move more quickly or normally, however the brain mechanisms underlying these phenomena are poorly understood. The proposed studies use complimentary brain mapping techniques to understand the brain mechanisms supporting improved movements elicited by external cues. The central hypothesis is that distinct networks are involved in movement improvement depending on characteristics of the facilitating stimulus. Participants will perform movement tasks during recording of brain activity with EEG and MRI. The identified biomarkers may provide targets for future neuromodulation therapies to improve symptoms that are refractory to current treatments, such as freezing of gait.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of California Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

About this study

The studies proposed here test the overarching hypothesis that different types of cues (visual targets, rhythmic auditory stimuli and reward incentives) facilitate movement through distinct neuroanatomic circuits and electrophysiological mechanisms, by leveraging known variability in behavioral cueing benefits across patients.

Aim 1 is to demonstrate behavioral dissociations between different forms of movement facilitation within patients and relate variability in cueing benefits to integrity of dissociable neuroanatomic circuits as measured by resting state and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Aim 2 is to characterize the electrophysiological correlates of behavioral benefits for the different cue types using electroencephalography (EEG).

Patients will perform two computer tasks involving reaching and tapping movements during video recording of movements and electrophysiological recording of brain signals. Experimental manipulations involve different computer stimuli that manipulate the presence or absence of sensory and motivational movement cues. The same experimental manipulations are delivered to all individual subjects. 60 patients with Parkinson's disease and 30 healthy controls will perform the task during recording of brain waves from the scalp (EEG) and return for a second session to record brain activity with MRI. Each of the total of 2 sessions will last about 1.5 hours. Patients may be asked to delay taking their morning Parkinson's disease medications and perform clinical rating scales and questionnaires and undergo a movement disorders neurological exam.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease based on presence of at least 2 cardinal features (tremor, rigidity or bradykinesia) OR healthy adult with no neurologic disease
  • Age > 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

  • Dementia as indicated by score on Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 19
  • Active hallucinations or psychosis
  • Contraindications to MRI (metal implant, claustrophobia)

Treatment and study plan

Movement task

Behavioral

Computer task with experimental conditions manipulating sensory and motivation cues for movement.

Other names: Computer task

Primary outcomes

  1. EEG recordings

    Time frame: baseline

    EEG power in the beta band

  2. BOLD fMRI: functional brain connectivity

    Time frame: up to 4 weeks

    Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) resting state network activity as a function of behavioral benefits from external cues

  3. Diffusion tractography imaging (MRI): structural brain connectivity

    Time frame: up to 4 weeks

    Diffusion tensor fractional anisotropy as a function of behavioral benefits from external cues

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 5, 2022
Registry last updated
Jan 7, 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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