Influence of Brain Oscillation-Dependent TMS on Motor Function
Recruiting now
Conditions studied: Healthy, Stroke, Normal Physiology, Aging
In brief
Background: When people have a stroke, they often have difficulty moving their arms and hands. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can improve how well people with and without stroke can move their arms and hands. But the effects of TMS are minor, and it doesn t work for everyone. Researchers want to study how to time brain stimulation so that the effects are more consistent. Objective: To understand how the brain responds to transcranial magnetic stimulation so that treatments for people with stroke can be improved. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who had a stroke at least 6 months ago Healthy volunteers ages 50 and older Design: Participants will have up to 5 visits. At visit 1, participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. Participants with stroke will also have TMS and surface electromyography (sEMG). For TMS, a brief electrical current will pass through a wire coil on the scalp. Participants may hear a click and feel a pull. Muscles may twitch. Participants may be asked to do simple movements during TMS. For sEMG, small electrodes will be attached to the skin and muscle activity will be recorded. At visit 2, participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They will lie on a table that slides into a metal cylinder in a strong magnetic field. They will get earplugs for the loud noise. At visit 3, participants will have TMS, sEMG, and electroencephalography (EEG). For EEG, small electrodes on the scalp will record brainwaves. Participants will sit still, watch a movie, or do TMS. Participants may be asked to have 2 extra visits to redo procedures.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03288220
- Run by
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- People needed
- 114
- Starts
- 2018-09-11
- Expected to finish
- 2029-03-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-07-14
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 120. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may not qualify if…
- Healthy younger and older adults:
- Presence of severe neurological or medical disorder (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis).
- History of seizures.
- Chronic use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine or clozapine), tri-cyclic or other anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, or prescription stimulants.
- TMS contraindications, such as:
- Pacemaker, implanted pump, stimulator, cochlear implant, or metal objects inside the eye or skull.
- Diagnosed severe hearing loss.
- Current pregnancy.
- Staff from our section.
- Stroke patients:
- Presence of severe neurological or medical disorder, other than stroke (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis).
- History of brainstem stroke.
- History of seizures.
- Chronic use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine or clozapine), benzodiazepines, or prescription stimulants.
- TMS contraindications, such as:
- Pacemaker, implanted pump, stimulator, cochlear implant, or metal objects inside
- the eye or skull.
- --Diagnosed severe hearing loss.
- Current pregnancy.
- Staff from our section.
Where it is running
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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