Actively Recruiting
Sensory-specific Peripheral Stimulation for Tremor Management
Led by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · Updated on 2025-05-25
180
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
273 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
S
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Lead Sponsor
N
Northwestern University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The purpose of this study is to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) in modulating supraspinal tremorogenic input to motoneurons. For this purpose, the investigators will use transcutaneous PES, high-density electromyography (HD-EMG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neuromusculoskeletal modelling. This study will be carried out in both healthy participants and patients with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD).
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Sensory-specific Peripheral Stimulation for Tremor Management
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age from 18 to 80 years
- No history of brain or skull lesions
- Normal hearing and corrected vision
- Able to understand and give informed consent
- No neurological disorders or tremor for healthy participants
- No pathology causing abnormal limb movements (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, arthritis)
- Able to understand and speak English
- Diagnosis of essential tremor or Parkinson's disease by a physician for patients
- Tremor in at least one upper limb with specific tremor types (flexion-extension wrist tremor with posture for ET, rest tremor for PD)
- Moderate to severe tremor by clinical judgment and rating scales
- Absence of diseases causing abnormal limb movements or severe dyskinesias
- Stable medication doses for at least 30 days prior to enrollment for patients
You will not qualify if you...
- Presence of cardiac pacemaker, neurostimulators, implanted pumps
- Metal implants or metallic particles in the body or eye
- Surgical clips or neurosurgery history
- Magnetic particles in the body
- Cochlear implants
- Prosthetic heart valves
- History of epilepsy or seizures
- Neurological diagnoses or medications affecting brain function for healthy participants
- Significant head trauma or structural brain lesions
- Serious heart disease, tumors, or mental disorders
- Claustrophobia or Meniere's disease
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Non-prescribed drug use or current substance abuse (except nicotine)
- Recreational marijuana use
- Tremor, parkinsonism, or neurological and medical conditions interfering with study procedures
- Dementia, severe depression, or prior neurosurgical procedures
- Failure to perform study tasks or evaluations
- Prisoner status
- Atypical or secondary parkinsonism or other neurological diseases for patients
- Mixed or complex tremors
- Inability or unwillingness to stop tremor medications on study days for patients
- Psychiatric or medical diseases interfering with study procedures
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
Jose Pons, Ph.D
CONTACT
G
Grace Hoo, BS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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