Training adolescents with Tourette Syndrome to control brain activity
Official title: Neurofeedback from the supplementary motor area for Tourette Syndrome
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11036355 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a brain training program to help teenagers with Tourette Syndrome learn to control a part of their brain that affects their tics, using fun techniques like imagining relaxing scenes or practicing movements, to see if it can help them manage their symptoms better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 9, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $688,722 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH127147-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036355 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 0-11 years diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 0-11 years or those without a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a neurofeedback intervention aimed at helping adolescents with Tourette Syndrome learn to control a specific area of their brain known as the supplementary motor area (SMA), which is linked to tic generation. Participants will receive real-time feedback on their brain activity while practicing techniques to either increase or decrease activity in this region. The intervention includes mental strategies such as visualizing complex motor tasks or relaxing scenarios to help manage their symptoms. The study aims to confirm previous promising results in a larger group of participants using a randomized design.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a non-invasive method for adolescents with Tourette Syndrome to better manage their tics and improve their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using similar neurofeedback approaches have shown promising results, indicating potential efficacy in managing Tourette Syndrome symptoms.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hampson, Michelle — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Hampson, Michelle
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Precision brain mapping of tics in children with Tourette syndrome
A new study uses advanced MRI to map brain activity in individual kids with Tourette syndrome to understand why tics differ from child to child.
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Digital tic-detection partner to support Tourette syndrome therapy
A computer vision system will help detect tics in children and youths with Tourette syndrome to support behavioral therapy at home and in real life.
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Quantifying Tourette tics with video and computer tools
This project aims to develop and test video-based, automated ways to measure tic severity in people with Tourette Syndrome.
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Brain-feedback training to help teens with Tourette control tics
This project teaches teenagers with Tourette syndrome to use real-time MRI brain-feedback to change activity in a motor brain area with the goal of reducing tics.
-
International collaboration mapping genes and brain scans in Tourette syndrome
This project brings together MRI brain scans and genetic data from people with Tourette syndrome and related conditions to spot biological patterns linked to tics and co-occurring symptoms.
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How Tourette syndrome develops in the brain
Researchers are using donated brain tissue and patient-derived stem cells to learn why people with Tourette syndrome have fewer specific brain cells in the basal ganglia.
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.