Enhancing Sensorimotor Processing in Childhood-onset Dystonia (V1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Enhancing Cortical Sensorimotor Processing in Children/Young People with Dystonia and Dystonic Cerebral Palsy – An Observational study to evaluate whether neurofeedback can enhance modulation of the mu brain rhythm in children and young people with dystonia/dystonic cerebral palsy.
IRAS ID
317454
Contact name
Verity McClelland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
CF-2021-2\112, Rosetrees Trust (funder)
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Dystonia is a severely disabling movement disorder with no cure, in which people suffer painful muscle spasms causing twisting movements and abnormal postures. There are many causes, including genetic conditions and brain injury. The most common cause in childhood is dystonic cerebral palsy (CP) which often affects the whole body.
The underlying mechanisms are unknown, but there is growing evidence to implicate abnormal brain processing by the brain of incoming “sensory” information
(e.g., signals to the brain from our senses of touch and body position): the distorted perception of these signals disrupts the way the brain produces instructions for planning and performing movements.My previous studies have shown that the way the brain processes sensory information related to movement is abnormal in children with dystonia and dystonic CP, by using methods that record the EEG (electroencephalogram - brain wave signals) and/or EMG (electromyogram - electrical signal from muscles). A specific brain rhythm (called mu) typically shows well-defined changes in response to movement, and reflects processing of sensory information. My work shows these rhythm changes are abnormal in children with dystonia/dystonic CP.
This study will explore if these findings can improve treatment. In particular we will
investigate whether children and young people with dystonia/dystonic CP can enhance these mu rhythm responses during a movement task by using feedback of their brain rhythms displayed as a cartoon/game on a computer. We will also assess whether enhanced mu activity is associated with improved movement control. This would open future possibilities to use such devices for therapy/rehabilitation.Children and young people with dystonia/dystonic CP aged 5-25 years will be recruited, along with age-matched controls. Studies will last 2-3 hours with time for breaks and will be conducted at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Barts Health Trust, with the option for home visits if preferable for families.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0035
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion