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Contact Information:

Dr Huiling Tan
+44(0)1865 572483
huiling.tan@ndcn.ox.ac.uk


Dr Shenghong He
+44(0)7517414778
shenghong.he@gmail.com


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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Investigating the relationship between movement initiation and beta bursts in patients with Parkinson’s disease by neurofeedback training
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Investigating the relationship between movement initiation and beta bursts in patients with Parkinson’s disease by neurofeedback training

Not Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Adult

Oxford

Medical Conditions

Parkinson’s disease (PD)

This information is provided directly by researchers and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information.


Beta bursts (increase in certain brain signals known as beta oscillations) in specific brain circuits have been associated with rigidity and slow movement in Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as associated with the initiation of movement in healthy subjects. The suppression of beta bursts through medication or deep brain stimulation (DBS) correlates with improvement in the symptoms of PD. In particular, the occurrence of the beta bursts just before a signal to start moving slows these movements.

In this study, we used a neurofeedback behavior task in order to investigate whether patients with Parkinson’s disease and healthy volunteers can learn to suppress beta bursts with neurofeedback training and whether the training improves performance in a subsequent movement task.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

01 Aug 2018 21 May 2021

Publications

2019 Other publications in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31768227 pilot study

The participants are involved in a neurofeedback training task, in which the participants are asked to wear sensors (like a swimming cap) to monitor their brain activity. These sensors will be linked to a computer screen displaying a game. In the game, the participants will be asked to control the movement of a basketball displayed on a computer screen, which will require the suppression of the beta bursts to create the correct signal via the sensors.

After each session of the neurofeedback training, the participants are involved in a pinch task, in which the participants are instructed to produce a pinch as fast as possible in response to a cue. This will test movement initiation.

The total duration of the experiment during the first visit will be approximately 2 hours. Participants will be invited to up to two more sessions to repeat the training. This will assess if there is a learning effect of the training. The maximal interval between the additional sessions will be 2 days.


Patients aged 25 – 80 with Parkinson's disease with or without DBS electrodes implanted, and adult healthy volunteers.

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Cognitive impairment (judged by the clinician taking consent as not having sufficient mental capacity to understand the study and its requirements). Including anyone who, in the opinion of the clinician taking consent is unlikely to retain sufficient mental capacity for the duration of their involvement in the study.2. Severe motor impairment (judged by the clinician taking consent as not having sufficient motor capacity to perform the motor task in the study).3. Unwilling to briefly withdraw the ongoing medications.4. Severe visual impairment


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • University of Oxford
    Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences Level 6 West Wing John Radcliffe Hospital
    Oxford
    OX3 9DU

The assessments and recordings that will be performed during the study are neither invasive nor harmful. They do not pose any risk to the health or safety of the participants. The risk to participants is minimal. For patients with Parkinson’s disease, involvement in the study will not affect the clinical care they receive. All recordings with patients undergoing the surgery for DBS are assisted by a local clinician.
There are no direct benefits to participants. Results from the study may, however, help in understanding the relationship between beta bursts and movement initiation, as well as to investigate the potential benefit of neurofeedback training in the treatment of PD.

Dr Huiling Tan
+44(0)1865 572483
huiling.tan@ndcn.ox.ac.uk


Dr Shenghong He
+44(0)7517414778
shenghong.he@gmail.com



The study is sponsored by University of Oxford and funded by Medical Research Council; Rosetrees Trust.




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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN12684957

Or CPMS 42172

Last updated 26 February 2020

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