Using deep brain stimulation to improve voice control in patients with movement disorders
Official title: Deep Brain Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-10915599 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 voice issues.
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, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $654,429 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC019900-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10915599 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or essential tremor who are undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with voice disorders not related to movement disorders or those who are not candidates for DBS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how deep brain stimulation (DBS) can help improve voice control in patients suffering from movement disorders like laryngeal dystonia and essential tremor. The study aims to understand the neural mechanisms behind voice dysfunction by recording brain activity during DBS surgery when patients are awake and speaking. By combining invasive techniques like electrocorticography with non-invasive methods such as functional MRI, the research seeks to uncover how voice production is affected by brain networks involved in motor control. This could lead to better treatment options for those with voice-related symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the quality of life for patients by improving their ability to communicate effectively.
How similar studies have gone: While deep brain stimulation has been successful for limb symptoms in movement disorders, the specific application to voice dysfunction is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Thalamic Coordinated Reset Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor
A new brain stimulation approach is being tested to help people with essential tremor by using coordinated, lower-intensity stimulation to the thalamus.
-
New deep brain stimulation technique for treating essential tremor
This study is testing a new way to use deep brain stimulation to help people with essential tremor by using a gentler method that aims to reduce side effects, so you can feel better without as many complications.
-
Brain causes of vocal spasms (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.
-
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.
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.