Actively Recruiting
Brain Network Changes After Vibro-tactile Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia
Led by University of Minnesota · Updated on 2026-03-19
20
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
58 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Laryngeal dystonia (LD) is a focal dystonia affecting laryngeal muscles, causing involuntary spasms that impair speech production. Recent research demonstrated that non-invasive vibrotactile stimulation (VTS) of the laryngeal area can provide acute symptom relief in up to 57% of patients, with improvements in voice quality and reductions in perceived speech effort lasting from minutes to several days. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this therapeutic effect and the factors determining individual treatment response remain incompletely understood. The objective is to evaluate the acute effects of VTS on voice and speech parameters in participants with LD while characterizing associated changes in brain resting-state networks using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Brain Network Changes After Vibro-tactile Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 18 to 75 years
- Diagnosis of laryngeal dystonia confirmed by a voice disorder specialist and Dr. Misono, UM Otolaryngology (for LD group)
- Healthy adults aged 18 to 75 years with no neurological or orthopedic deficits affecting speech motor functions (for healthy controls)
You will not qualify if you...
- Regular use of benzodiazepines
- Cognitive impairment: Mini-mental state examination score below 27 or Beck depression inventory score above 19
- Neurological or musculoskeletal impairments affecting speech motor function, including Dyskinesia, Dystonia, Essential Tremor, Huntington's Disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, Parkinsonism, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Spasticity, brain or spinal tumors, stroke, traumatic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, or multiple sclerosis
- Presence of any bio-implant activated by mechanical, electronic, or magnetic means
- Presence of any ferromagnetic bio-implant that could be displaced or damaged
- Pregnant females (must confirm with pregnancy test if in doubt)
- Noticeable anxiety or claustrophobia
- Cardiac or circulatory impairments or inability to perspire properly
- Known conditions that could lead to emergency medical care
- Diagnosed psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, neurological or cardiovascular disease, brain tumor, stroke, chemotherapy, immunomodulatory or radiation treatment affecting the brain
- Non-removable piercings or permanent eyeliner
- History of head injury causing loss of consciousness over 30 minutes or amnesia over 24 hours
- History of head trauma that may have caused traumatic brain injury or presence of metal in the body from injury or medical procedures
- Professional or academic link to one of the principal investigators
- Vulnerable populations including fetuses, neonates, pregnant women, children under 18 years, or prisoners
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
Jürgen Konczak, PhD, Dr. rer. nat. habil.
CONTACT
Y
Yu-ting Tseng, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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