Brain Control of Blinking

NCT00030199 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 02011902-N-0119
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study how the brain controls movement of muscles in the face-in particular, those involved in eye blinking. TMS is a procedure that activates areas of the brain with magnetic pulses that travel through the scalp and the skull. Healthy normal volunteers 21 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. They must be free of any serious medical illness, have no neurological or psychiatric disorders or history of seizures, and must not be taking any medications that can affect nervous system function. Participants will undergo TMS and the electrical activity in muscles activated by the stimulation will be recorded. For TMS, an insulated wire coil is placed on the patient's scalp, and a brief electrical current is passed through the coil. This creates a magnetic pulse that travels through the scalp and skull and causes small electrical currents in the outer part of the brain. If the coil is placed over a nerve that controls muscles, there may be a twitch in the muscles, sometimes large enough to move the face. In other cases, there may be a feeling of movement or tingling sensation in the face. Stimulation over the muscles on the side of the head may cause some discomfort there or twitching of the jaw. During the stimulation, subjects may be asked to tense certain muscles slightly or perform other simple actions. Electrical activity of the muscles activated by the stimulation is recorded. This is done with both metal electrodes taped to the skin over the muscle and with fine needle electrodes inserted into the muscles around the eyes. The study usually takes less than 3 hours, with frequent breaks. If more time is required, the study will be broken into more than one session.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Transcranial Magnetic Stimuli; Eletromyography; Needle Electrode; Facial Muscles; Blink Reflex; Motor Cortex; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Healthy Volunteer; HV; Normal Control

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may not qualify if:

• who have a pacemaker;
• an implanted medical pump;
• a metal plate or a metal object in the skull or eye (for example, after brain surgery); or
• who have a history of seizure disorder.

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)

• Jenny AB, Saper CB. Organization of the facial nucleus and corticofacial projection in the monkey: a reconsideration of the upper motor neuron facial palsy. Neurology. 1987 Jun;37(6):930-9. doi: 10.1212/wnl.37.6.930.

  PMID: 3587643 BACKGROUND

• Tsubota K, Kwong KK, Lee TY, Nakamura J, Cheng HM. Functional MRI of brain activation by eye blinking. Exp Eye Res. 1999 Jul;69(1):1-7. doi: 10.1006/exer.1999.0660.

  PMID: 10375444 BACKGROUND

• Morecraft RJ, Louie JL, Herrick JL, Stilwell-Morecraft KS. Cortical innervation of the facial nucleus in the non-human primate: a new interpretation of the effects of stroke and related subtotal brain trauma on the muscles of facial expression. Brain. 2001 Jan;124(Pt 1):176-208. doi: 10.1093/brain/124.1.176.

  PMID: 11133797 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2002
• First Posted: February 8, 2002
• Study Start: February 1, 2002
• Study Completion: February 1, 2004
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2004-02

Locations

US (1)