Deep brain stimulation to improve voice in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Official title: Deep Brain Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11161200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $208,890 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC019900-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor who are candidates for DBS surgery and can participate in awake intraoperative testing are ideal.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not eligible for DBS, whose voice problems are caused by non-neurological issues, or who cannot undergo awake surgery are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would join a program that records brain signals while you speak, using both non-invasive scans (M/EEG and fMRI) before surgery and direct brain recordings during awake DBS implantation. During surgery, sensors on the brain surface (ECoG) and electrodes in deeper brain areas will capture how speech-related circuits fire during voice tasks. The team will compare these recordings to understand how basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical networks control voice and how DBS alters those signals. Findings aim to guide better DBS targeting and programming to reduce voice problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to DBS targeting or programming that reduces voice symptoms and improves speech for people with these disorders.
How similar studies have gone: DBS is proven to help limb dystonia and tremor, but using intraoperative ECoG and subcortical recordings to map voice control is relatively new and not yet well established.
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
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Using deep brain stimulation to improve voice control in patients with movement disorders
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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.