Brain causes of vocal spasms (laryngeal dystonia) and voice tremor
Understanding disorder-specific neural pathophysiology in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
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 ID | NIH-11161199 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor who can perform spoken tasks and tolerate brain imaging procedures would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simonyan, Kristina — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Simonyan, Kristina
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 below.