Neurofeedback From the Supplementary Motor Area for Tourette Syndrome

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Tourette Syndrome in Adolescence

In brief

This is a clinical trial where adolescents aged 10-16 years old with Tourette Syndrome (or chronic tic disorder) are randomized to receive either real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback targeting the supplementary motor area (for the experimental intervention) or real-time fMRI neurofeedback (NF) from a control region (for the control intervention).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05558566

Run by

Yale University

People needed

64

Starts

2022-11-01

Expected to finish

2027-01-20

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-09

Who can join

Age: 10 and older, up to 16. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Boys and girls, 10 to 16 years of age
• A current diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorder (CTD), with active tics that can be executed without head movement, and a YGTSS score of at least 13 (for TS participants) or at least 12 (for CTD participants)
• Currently stable medication treatment and no planned changes in medication for the duration of the study.
• Family residence within 2 hours of Yale Medical Center with ability and willingness to attend assessment and fMRI visits.
• Children and their parents are expected to be able to speak and understand spoken English in order to participate in a clinical assessment of TS and related psychopathology.
• Subjects will be free of: 1) metal medical implants or braces, 2) pregnancy, and will have 3) a body weight of less than 250 lbs. and 4) no claustrophobia.

You may not qualify if…

• Intelligence quotient below 80
• Current diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, bipolar or psychotic disorder or current suicidality
• Significant medical condition such as heart disease, hypertension, liver or renal failure, pulmonary disease, seizure disorder
• Recently initiated psychotherapy. Participation in the study will not be allowed within 8 weeks of the initiation of psychotherapy. Ongoing, concurrent psychotherapy (that was initiated at least 8 weeks previously) for the child will be allowed, but parents will be asked not to initiate any new psychotherapy for the child during the study
• Subjects may also be excluded after the first MR scan if we are unable to localize the two regions in their brain that are used as targets for the active and control neurofeedback conditions.

Where it is running

• Yale University School of Medicine — New Haven, Connecticut, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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