Adaptive Closed-loop Brain-computer Interface Therapeutic Intervention in Laryngeal Dystonia

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating a new adaptive closed-loop brain-computer interface (BCI) therapy for people with laryngeal dystonia (LD), a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle spasms in the voice box during speaking. This condition disrupts speech and severely impacts quality of life through communication difficulties, occupational disability, and social isolation. The trial is a randomized, sham-controlled phase 1 study designed to explore how this BCI treatment might modulate the brain patterns involved in LD and inform future therapies. The study involves two groups of participants with LD. One group receives active EEG-based neurofeedback training where they use the BCI system to adjust their brain activity during speaking to resemble that during whispering, which is symptom-free. The comparison group receives sham neurofeedback training using a similar setup but without effective brain activity correction. The BCI system combines high-density EEG, 3D virtual reality, and machine learning to decode neural signals in real time during these sessions. Participants will undergo a five-day intervention during which their voice symptoms and brain activity are monitored. Researchers will assess changes in voice symptoms at the end of the intervention to evaluate the therapy's potential effects. The study includes detailed cognitive and neurological assessments, and participants are screened for other health conditions that could interfere with the results. The trial runs until August 2027 and includes adults aged 18 to 80 years who meet specific clinical and language criteria.

Brain-Computer Interfaces in Laryngeal Dystonia