NCT06692920 is a basic science interventional study conducted by the University of Minnesota that aims to characterize the pathophysiological role of the pallido-thalamocortical motor pathway in Parkinson's disease. During standard DBS surgery, researchers simultaneously record brain activity from the DBS lead in the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi) and from an ECoG strip placed over the motor cortex to understand how these brain regions communicate and how this communication differs in PD[1].
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| NCT Number | NCT06692920 |
| Official Title | Characterizing the Pathophysiological Role of the Pallido-thalamocortical Motor Pathway in Parkinson's Disease |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota |
| Principal Investigator | Joshua E Aman, MD |
| Phase | Not Applicable (Basic Science) |
| Study Type | Interventional |
| Indication | Parkinson's Disease |
| Status | RECRUITING |
| Enrollment | 25 participants (estimated) |
| Study Duration | December 2024 – December 2027 |
| Location | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN |
The pallido-thalamocortical motor pathway is a critical neural circuit connecting:
In Parkinson's disease, this pathway becomes dysregulated due to dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to:
Despite decades of DBS therapy for PD, the precise mechanisms by which stimulation improves motor symptoms remain incompletely understood. This study aims to:
This is a single-group, basic science study conducted during clinically indicated DBS surgery.
During DBS lead placement surgery:
The study compares two stimulation conditions:
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| High Coherence | Stimulation through the DBS contact whose electrical activity is MOST similar to motor cortex activity |
| Low Coherence | Stimulation through the DBS contact whose electrical activity is LEAST similar to motor cortex activity |
During the mapping session, patients perform:
| Measure | Description | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Pallido-thalamocortical pathway activation | Amount of activity in the pathway from stimulation, comparing high vs. low coherence conditions | Post-surgery (1 day) |
| Bradykinesia correlation | Relationship between bradykinesia measures and total pathway activation | Post-surgery (1 day) |
Recording from both GPi and motor cortex simultaneously provides unique insights:
This research may reveal:
| Contact | Role | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Brown, RN | Primary Contact | (612) 301-2140 | ksbrown@umn.edu |
| Joshua E Aman, MD | Principal Investigator | — | — |
| Niecy Beltz | Recruitment | 612-626-5711 | beltz070@umn.edu |