Distinguishing Tics and Functional Tics Using Clinical Neurophysiological Techniques

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Tics, Functional Tics

In brief

Background: Tics are involuntary movements and vocalizations. Some tics are organic: They are related to diagnosed disorders. Sometimes tics have other causes, such as problems with how the brain and body send and receive messages. These are called functional tics. It can be difficult to tell the difference between these 2 types of tics. Doctors need to know more so they can make more accurate diagnoses. Objective: To learn more about the difference between functional and organic tics. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 to 80 years who have a tic that causes involuntary movements. Healthy volunteers with no tics are also needed. Design: Participants will have one 4-hour clinic visit. The visit may be done in 1 or 2 days. Participants will refrain from consuming alcohol or caffeine before the visit. They may have a physical exam. Participants will wear two types of sensors: Electromyography (EMG): Adhesive disks with sensors will be attached to the skin above some muscles. These disks will record electricity in the muscles as the participant moves. Electroencephalography (EEG): Sensors will be placed on the participant s scalp. The sensors may be adhered directly, or the participant may wear an electrode cap. The sensors will detect brain waves. Participants will rest while seated in a chair. Their involuntary tics will be monitored with the EMG and EEG. Then they will be asked to make movements to mimic their tics. Healthy volunteers will also rest; then they will be asked to perform movements that mimic tics. Participants will have their blink reflex tested. EMG sensors will be placed on the muscles near the eyes. Electrical pulses will be used to stimulate blinking. Participants will answer questionnaires about their tics and their health....

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07137442

Run by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

People needed

75

Starts

2026-08-13

Expected to finish

2034-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• Self-reported consumption of >14 alcoholic drinks/week* for a man and >7 alcoholic drinks/week for a woman
• Use of prescription drugs and other illicit drugs that may suppress tics such as dopamine blocking agents and antipsychotics during a certain time period prior to the
• neurophysiological testing session.**
• Clinically significant abnormal movements on neurological examination except for tics.
• Contraindications to EEG or EMG procedures, including skin lesions at electrode sites or hypersensitivity to electrode materials.
• History of or current brain tumor, stroke, head trauma with loss of consciousness.
• Epilepsy or seizures in the past 12 months.
• Have a Baclofen pump, or have neurostimulators for pain.
• Pregnant women
• Self-reported current major depression or Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) score >19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) score > 9, or any major current psychiatric illness.
• Presence of any metal in the eye or skull area such as a brain stimulator, shrapnel, surgical metal, clips in the brain, cochlear implants, metal fragments in the eye.
• Presence of pacemaker, intracardiac lines, implanted pumps or stimulators.
• Unable to comply with the requirements of the study procedures.
• Vocal tics only tested with Modified Rush Video-Based Tic Rating Scale.
• Low Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) score < 9 (maximum 36) with low willingness for tics (patient groups only, not applicable in healthy volunteers).
• Note: 1 standard alcoholic drink is 0.6 ounce (14 grams) of pure alcohol.
• Note: The certain time period depends on different drugs used. Five half-lives will be selected. The drug is considered effectively eliminated from the body after this time period because the concentration of the drug reaches around 3% of the orininal concentration.

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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