Stimulating Specific Brain Areas (VOP/VIM) With Electricity to Improve Movement and Muscle Control

Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Movement Disorders (Incl Parkinsonism); Traumatic Brain Injury; Stroke; Parkinson Disease; Brain Diseases; Essential Tremor, Movement Disorders

Treatments: Device: Direct cortical stimulation and deep brain stimulation of motor thalamus

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07056361

STUDY22100174

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study the investigators aim to enroll patients scheduled to undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS) implantation for movement disorders for intra-operative testing. In addition to standard-of-care surgical procedure to implant deep brain stimulation electrode leads, participants will also be stimulated and recorded from cortical areas by a temporary strip electrode (1X6) in the subdural space. The electrodes will be connected to external stimulators and a series of experiments will be performed to assess effects of the DBS on movement quality and electrophysiology measures. Results of this study will elucidate the biological mechanisms related to deep brain stimulation in modulating motor and speech function in patients with abnormal movement disorders.

Full description

In this study the investigators aim to enroll patients for intra-operative testing. Specifically, the investigators will recruit patients already undergoing DBS implantation for movement disorders. In addition to standard-of-care subcortical mapping using micro-electrode recording (MER) and macro-stimulation mapping during DBS placement, cortical local field potentials (LFPs) will be simultaneously recorded from primary motor (M1) and somatosensory (S1) cortical areas by placement of a temporary strip electrode (1X6) in the subdural space. Appropriate localization of this grid over M1 and S1 will be confirmed by the so-called phase-reversal of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). Once M1 is localized, the strip electrode over M1 will be used to produce motor evoked potentials to contralateral hand muscles from direct cortical stimulation (DCMEPs). The stimulation threshold of the DCMEPs will be used as a direct measure of the excitability of the cortical spinal tract and compared with and without stimulation of the VOP/VIM nuclei. Cortical and subcortical LFPs will be obtained alongside electromyographic (EMG) data while the patient performs contralateral upper extremity movement tasks measuring velocity, grip strength, and strength modulation and while the patient perform a variety of articulation exercises. Along with the DCMEP stimulation thresholds, these parameters of motor output will be obtained both with and without VOP/VIM stimulation to assess for stimulation induced potentiation of motor output.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Essential tremor patients who are scheduled to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery at UPMC Presbyterian with asymmetric essential tremor symptoms will be included, with the tested limb corresponding to the least affected arm to better approximate normal function. These patients are implanted bilaterally regardless of symptom laterality, as the natural history of essential tremor indicates eventual bilateral symptoms.
• Parkinson's Disease patients who are scheduled to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery at UPMC Presbyterian with a history of Parkinson's Disease will also be recruited for intra-operative stimulation of their STN-targeted implants, to assess if VIM/VOP has high specificity for improving motor output.

Confirmation that subjects' terms of insurance coverage for their standard of care procedure will not be altered by study enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients will be excluded from the study if there is any seizure history, to avoid the increased epileptogenic risk of intraoperative stimulation.
• Patients with significant bilateral tremor that precludes completion of motor tasks.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 1 patient group

Direct Cortical Stimulation and Deep Brain Stimulation of the Motor Thalamus

Experimental group

Description:

Individuals undergoing deep brain stimulation device implanted in the motor thalamus for movement disorders treatment. Some of whom may also sustain speech, swallowing, and motor deficits.

Treatment:

Device: Direct cortical stimulation and deep brain stimulation of motor thalamus