NCT00137384

Movement-Related Brain Networks Involved in Hand Dystonia

Completed Last updated 1 May 2018

What this trial tests

trial in Movement Disorder in 60 participants. Completed in 27 April 2018.

Timeline

25 August 2005

27 April 2018

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Status	Completed
Study type	OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment	60
Start date	25 August 2005
Estimated completion	27 April 2018
Sites	1 location across United States

Conditions studied

• Movement Disorder — all drugs for Movement Disorder →
• Focal Dystonia — all drugs for Focal Dystonia →

Sponsor

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Movement Disorder or Focal Dystonia. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

This study will use various methods to measure the activity of the motor cortex (the part of the brain that controls movements) in order to learn more about focal hand dystonia. Patients with dystonia have muscle spasms that cause uncontrolled twisting and repetitive movement or abnormal postures. In focal dystonia, just one part of the body, such as the hand, neck or face, is involved.

Patients with focal hand dystonia and healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 65 years of age may be eligible for this study. Each candidate is screened with a medical history, physical examination and questionnaire. Participants undergo the following procedures:

Finger Movement Tasks

Subjects perform two finger movement tasks. In the first part of the study, they move their index finger repetitively from side to side at 10-second intervals for a total of 200 movements in four blocks of 50 at a time. In the second part of the study, subjects touch their thumb to the other four fingers in sequence from 1, 2, 3 and 4, while a metronome beats 2 times per second to help time the movements. This sequence is repeated for a total of 200 movements in four blocks of 50 at a time.

Electroencephalography

This test records brain waves. Electrodes (metal discs) are placed on the scalp with an electrode cap, a paste or a glue-like substance. The spaces between the electrodes and the scalp are filled with a gel that conducts electrical activity. Brain waves are recorded while the subject performs a finger movement task, as described above.

Magnetoencephalography

MEG records magnetic field changes produced by brain activity. During the test, the subjects are seated in the MEG recording room and a cone containing magnetic field detectors is lowered onto their head. The recording may be made while the subject performs a finger task.

Electromyography

Electromyography (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles. This study uses surface EMG, in which small metal disks filled with a conductive gel are taped to the skin on the finger.

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of body tissues and organs. The patient lies on a table that can slide in and out of the scanner (a narrow metal cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning. Most scans last between 45 and 90 minutes. Subjects may be asked to lie still for up to 30 minutes at a time, and can communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the procedure.

Questionnaire

This questionnaire is designed to detect any sources of discomfort the subject may have experienced during the study.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.