Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Studies of Dystonia

NCT00017875 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 01018801-N-0188
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will use transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine how the brain controls muscle movement in focal and generalized types of dystonia. Dystonia is a movement disorder in which involuntary muscle contractions cause uncontrolled twisting or abnormal postures. Dystonia may be focal, involving just one region of the body, such as the hand, neck or face. Focal dystonia usually begins in adulthood. Generalized dystonia, on the other hand, generally begins in childhood or adolescence. Symptoms begin in one area and then become more widespread. Healthy normal volunteers and patients with focal or generalized dystonia 8 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. First-degree relatives of patients will also be enrolled. In transcranial magnetic stimulation, an insulated wire coil is placed on the subject's scalp and brief electrical currents are passed through the coil, creating magnetic pulses that pass into the brain. These pulses generate very small electrical currents in the cortex-the outer part of the brain-briefly disrupting the function of the brain cells in the stimulated area. The stimulation may cause muscle twitching or tingling in the scalp, face and limbs. During the stimulation, the subject will be asked to either keep the hand relaxed or to slightly tense certain muscles in the hand or arm. The test will last about 1.5 hours. The cause of dystonia is unknown. It is hoped that a comparison of brain activity in normal volunteers, patients and their relatives not affected by dystonia will help scientists learn why some people develop dystonic movements.

Conditions

Dystonic Disorder; Healthy

Keywords

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Intracortical Inhibition; Dystonia; Focal Dystonia; Dystonic Disorder; DYTI Dystonia; Movement Disorder; Generalized Dystonia; Healthy Control; Normal Volunteer

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy Volunteers entered into the study must be free of serious somatic disease as determined by a standard physical and neurological examination.
• For patients, the only selection criteria are the presence of primary dystonia, either focal or generalized (DYT1).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Hallett M. The neurophysiology of dystonia. Arch Neurol. 1998 May;55(5):601-3. doi: 10.1001/archneur.55.5.601.

  PMID: 9605716 BACKGROUND

• Nutt JG, Muenter MD, Melton LJ 3rd, Aronson A, Kurland LT. Epidemiology of dystonia in Rochester, Minnesota. Adv Neurol. 1988;50:361-5. No abstract available.

  PMID: 3400496 BACKGROUND

• Fahn S. Concept and classification of dystonia. Adv Neurol. 1988;50:1-8. No abstract available.

  PMID: 3041755 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dystonic Disorders; Dystonia; Movement Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Dyskinesias; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2001
• First Posted: June 18, 2001
• Study Start: June 1, 2001
• Study Completion: July 1, 2005
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2005-07

Locations

US (1)