Using DBS to probe basal ganglia dysfunction
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Studying the role of the basal ganglia in motor symptoms using deep brain stimulation
IRAS ID
271953
Contact name
Huiling Tan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics & Assurance Team (RGEA
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
In this study we will probe the function of collections of neurons deep in the brain termed the basal ganglia. We are interested in the role of the basal ganglia in how and why movement is disrupted in conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia and Essential Tremor. To probe the basal ganglia’s contribution we will use deep brain recording and stimulation. Patients with relatively severe movement disorders may have electrodes implanted in the basal ganglia so that stimulation can be delivered chronically as a form of therapy. We seek help from these patients to allow us (a) to record brain activity from these electrodes in the basal ganglia during symptoms related to abnormal motor control and (b) to stimulate the same electrodes while patients experience symptoms. Like this we can see what aspects of the activity of groups of nerve cells in the basal ganglia are associated with which symptoms and also establish that these aspects of activity help cause linked symptoms. This means studying patients just after electrode implantation, while the leads from the electrodes may still be available for hooking up to external recording and stimulating devices. Understanding how the activity of groups of nerve cells in the basal ganglia controls movement may help us develop improved treatments.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0550
Date of REC Opinion
5 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion