Investigating Subcortical Contributions to Speech Sequencing in Deep Brain Stimulator Reci
This study will examine how two important brain circuits - one involving the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and one involving the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) - contribute to learning and producing speech sequences. Participants will include two groups: 1. individuals with Parkinson's disease who have
| Condition(s) | Parkinson's Disease (PD), Essential Tremor |
|---|---|
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | NA |
| Study type | Interventional |
| Summary | This study will examine how two important brain circuits - one involving the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and one involving the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) - contribute to learning and producing speech sequences. Participants will include two groups: 1. individuals with Parkinson's disease who have deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices targeting the STN and 2. individuals with essential tremor who have DBS devices targeting the VIM. Participants will complete speech tasks involving the learning and repetition of novel sound sequences. During some parts of the study, DBS stimulation will be temporarily turned on or off in a controlled research setting. This will allow researchers to examine how stimulation affects both the learning of new speech sequences and the producti |
| Who can participate | Inclusion Criteria: * Native speakers of American English * Adults at least 18 years of age * A clinically established diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or essential tremor * Able to provide informed consent in the judgment of the investigator * Treated with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (Parkinson's disease) or ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (essential tremor) * Stable Parkinson's disease or essential tremor medication regimen for at least one month * Stable DBS program settings for at least one month * Nominal DBS system function, including normal impedances at therapeutic DBS contacts, and adequate battery life or adequate IPG charging status for therapy * For DBS sensing, implanted with Medtronic Percept PC or Percept RC implantable pulse generator * Co |
| Ages | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Lead sponsor | Boston University Charles River Campus |
| Locations | Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Start date | 2026-02-18 |
| NCT ID | NCT07455760 |
| Official listing | https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07455760 |