Use of Real-Time Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Neurofeedback to Improve Motor Function in Cerebellar Ataxia (fMRI)

Johns Hopkins University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Behavioral: At-home therapy; Device: Neurofeedback treatment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05436249

IRB00281329

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project will study the feasibility of motor rehabilitation in people with cerebellar ataxia using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) in conjunction with motor imagery. To do so, data will be collected from healthy adults in this protocol, to be compared with data from cerebellar ataxia participants.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 100 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18-100 years of age
• At least 8th-grade education
• Right-handedness

Exclusion criteria

• History of Axis I psychiatric disorders (including alcohol and drug dependence)
• Severe or unstable medical disorder, neurological disorders, such as stroke or epilepsy
• History of head injury that resulted in a loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes and/or neurological sequelae
• Any condition that is contraindicated for the MRI environment (e.g., metal in the body, pacemaker, claustrophobia)
• Currently pregnant
• Eligible subjects may be asked to refrain from medications that affect the central nervous system that would also make data difficult to interpret (e.g., sedatives) for an appropriate period of time prior to scanning
• Participants will be excluded if they do not have a home computer with internet available to complete the 3-week at-home component of the study protocol

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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12 participants in 2 patient groups

Real time neurofeedback with task

Other group

Description:

Participants will undergo a real-time fMRI scan during which two distinct tasks will be performed.

Treatment:

Device: Neurofeedback treatment

Overt tapping and/or motor imagery practice

Other group

Description:

Participants will undergo an overt tapping task at baseline. Participants are assigned to a group where they will then perform respective motor and/or imagery tasks at home for 3 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: At-home therapy