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NCT03131817: PC+S_PFC

Cortical Stimulation to Treat Mood and Behavioral Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 21 November 2025
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Medtronic Activa PC+S System with Chronic Neural Recording in Parkinson's Disease in 5 participants. Completed in 18 June 2024.

Timeline
16 December 2016
Primary endpoint
18 June 2024
18 June 2024

Quick facts

Lead sponsorSimon J. Little, MBBS, PhD
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationnon randomized
Designsingle group
Maskingnone
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment5
Start date16 December 2016
Primary completion18 June 2024
Estimated completion18 June 2024
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Simon J. Little, MBBS, PhD

Who can join

Adults 30 to 75, any sex, with Parkinson's Disease. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Association Between Basal Ganglia Beta Power and Effort Level (Beta Coefficient) Primary · Single recording session per participant (approximately 90 minutes total; 3 blocks of 25 trials each), with outcome assessed at each trial and data aggregated across all trials for all participants.

Mean beta-band (12-20 Hz) oscillatory power in the basal ganglia (BG) during the decision period, analyzed as a function of the current trial effort level during the reward-effort decision-making task.

GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease-0.175
Prefrontal Cortex Theta Power Relative to Previous Trial Reward (Beta Coefficient) Primary · Single recording session per participant (approximately 90 minutes total; 3 blocks of 25 trials each), with outcome assessed at each trial and data aggregated across all trials for all participants.

Mean theta-band (4-7 Hz) oscillatory power in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was assessed during the decision period of each trial. Theta power was modeled as a function of the reward received in the previous trial using linear mixed-effects models. The analysis included trials from structured decision-making task sessions.

GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease0.424
Effect of Reward Magnitude and Effort Cost on Offer Acceptance Probability Primary · Single recording session per participant (approximately 90 minutes total; 3 blocks of 25 trials each), with outcome assessed at each trial and data aggregated across all trials for all participants.

This outcome measures the effect of reward magnitude and effort cost on the probability of participants accepting offers during a decision-making task. Effects were assessed using generalized linear mixed models (LMMs) to estimate the relationship between reward, effort, and choice behavior.

Reward magnitude effect (higher reward, higher acceptance)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease1.05
Effort cost effect (higher effort, lower acceptance)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease-2.37
Association Between Prefrontal Cortex Beta Band Spectral Power and Mood Symptoms Primary · Daily paired assessments of neural recordings and IMS scores over 3-5 months for each participant.

This outcome measures the association between prefrontal cortex (PFC) beta band spectral power recorded via chronic subdural ECoG and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety assessed using standardized scales. Associations were evaluated using Spearman correlation coefficients calculated for each participant. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) ranges from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) ranges from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms.

GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease0.4150.31 – 0.48
Effect of Chronic Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) Stimulation on Depression, Anxiety, and Energy Ratings Primary · Daily paired assessments of neural recordings and IMS scores over 14 days for each participant.

This outcome measures self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and energy levels in participants undergoing chronic orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) stimulation at home. Participants received blinded OFC stimulation for 14 days, with alternating sham and active stimulation days. Symptoms were assessed daily using visual analogue scales (VAS) for depression, anxiety, and energy, as well as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). The VAS ranges from 0 to 100. For the depression and anxiety VAS, higher scores indicate worse symptoms, whereas for the energy VAS, higher scores indicate greate

VAS Anxiety Score (Sham Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease23.23± 23.71
VAS Energy Score (Sham Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease67.62± 23.59
VAS Depression Score (Sham Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease19.15± 22.71
VAS Anxiety Score (Active Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease33.00± 30.35
VAS Energy Score (Active Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease71.06± 20.24
VAS Depression Score (Active Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease28.63± 28.45
HAM-D Score (Sham Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease2.31± 2.72
HAM-D Score (Active Condition)
GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease2.25± 2.96
Effect of Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Acceptance Rate of Work Offers During Effort-Based Decision-Making Task Secondary · Six recording blocks (three with stimulation On and three with stimulation Off), each approximately 15 minutes in duration (total ~90 minutes), with outcome assessed on each trial and data aggregated across both conditions for the participant.

Measured the effect of high-frequency prefrontal cortex (PFC) stimulation on the acceptance rate of work offers during an effort-based decision-making task in one participant (PD5). Stimulation was delivered in a single-blinded, randomized, counterbalanced block-wise design at an amplitude below detectability threshold and without motor effects. Acceptance rate was modeled using a linear mixed model with stimulation condition (On vs Off) as a fixed effect.

GroupValue95% CI
Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease9.646

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: From enrollment until study exit (defined as device explantation or study withdrawal), up to 7 years.. Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Chronic Neural Recording With Prefrontal Cortex ECoG in Parkinson's Disease
Serious: 2/5 (40%)
Deaths: 0/5

Serious adverse events (2 terms)

ReactionSystemChronic Neural Recording W…
DBS lead migration requiring repositioning surgeryInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Prolonged hospitalization with cognitive and executive dysfunctionGeneral disorders
Other adverse events (1 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemChronic Neural Recording W…
Cortical lead migration detected post-surgeryInjury, poisoning and procedural complications

Most-reported serious reactions: DBS lead migration requiring repositioning surgery, Prolonged hospitalization with cognitive and executive dysfunction.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03131817 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

This study will investigate cortical stimulation to treat mood and behavioral symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients.

Publications & conference data

4 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Prefrontal Physiomarkers of Anxiety and Depression in Parkinson's Disease.
    de Hemptinne C, Chen W, Racine CA, Seritan AL, et al · · 2021 · cited 19× · PMID 34744613 · DOI 10.3389/fnins.2021.748165
  2. Beta and theta oscillations track effort and previous reward in the human basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex during decision making.
    Hoy CW, de Hemptinne C, Wang SS, Harmer CJ, et al · · 2024 · cited 15× · PMID 39047043 · DOI 10.1073/pnas.2322869121
  3. Patient, Caregiver, and Decliner Perspectives on Whether to Enroll in Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Research.
    Outram S, Muñoz KA, Kostick-Quenet K, Sanchez CE, et al · · 2021 · cited 6× · PMID 34690676 · DOI 10.3389/fnins.2021.734182
  4. Beta and theta oscillations track effort and previous reward in human basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex during decision making
    Hoy CW, de Hemptinne C, Wang SS, Harmer CJ, et al · · 2023 · DOI 10.1101/2023.12.05.570285

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Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing