Brain causes of vocal spasms (laryngeal dystonia) and voice tremor
Official title: Understanding disorder-specific neural pathophysiology in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11161199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses advanced brain imaging while people speak to find when and where brain activity goes wrong in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $203,254 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC019900-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor who can perform spoken tasks and tolerate brain imaging procedures would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose voice problems stem from structural laryngeal damage, who cannot complete speech tasks, or who are unable to undergo MRI/brain imaging may not benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would have detailed brain recordings and voice measurements while performing speech tasks like starting a sound and holding a note so researchers can link specific speech events to brain activity. The team combines imaging methods with good time and space resolution to pinpoint when abnormal signals occur and which brain regions are involved. They will compare people with laryngeal dystonia, people with voice tremor, and healthy volunteers to discover shared and distinct brain patterns. The goal is to map task-specific brain dysfunctions that underlie the voice symptoms you experience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more precise, targeted therapies (for example tailored brain stimulation or speech interventions) for people with these voice disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous brain imaging has suggested central involvement in these disorders but lacked the timing detail used here, so combining multiple imaging methods is a newer approach building on prior work.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simonyan, Kristina — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Simonyan, Kristina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Next-generation clinical profiling for laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
A multi-site program is exploring what makes laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor different from other conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis and targeted treatments for people affected by these voice disorders.
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Deep brain stimulation to improve voice in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Researchers will record brain activity during and before DBS surgery to learn how stimulation changes voice control in people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor.
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Telling strained voices apart from shaky voices to improve diagnosis
This project looks for clear voice and clinical features to help people with strained, stopped, or shaky speech get the right diagnosis faster.
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Understanding voice spasms and tremors (laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor)
This program will map patterns and causes of voice spasms and tremors to help people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor get more accurate diagnoses and better treatments.
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Using deep brain stimulation to improve voice control in patients with movement disorders
This study is looking at how a treatment called deep brain stimulation can help people with movement disorders, like laryngeal dystonia and essential tremor, improve their voice control while they talk, so they can better understand how the brain affects voice production and find new ways to help those struggling with
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Exploring brain function in voice disorders like laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
This study is looking at how the brain helps people with laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor speak, using special brain scans to find out what’s happening in their brains during speech, so we can better understand these conditions and improve treatment options for those affected.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.