Brain imaging of how people with and without cerebellar stroke hear and produce speech

High-resolution Functional Imaging of Speech-induced Sensory Modulation

We will use EEG and high‑field MRI to see if brain areas that plan movement and process speech work differently in healthy adults and people who've had a cerebellar stroke.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
• Trial ID: NCT06458153 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study uses an intensive within-subject design with up to six in-person sessions to map how motor planning regions and auditory systems interact during speech. Participants perform short speech production and perception tasks while researchers record brain activity with EEG and 7 Tesla functional MRI, plus structural MRI. The sample includes neurotypical adults, people with cerebellar stroke, and matched controls, with extensive sampling of each participant to capture individual patterns. All participants complete a hearing screen and behavioral measures alongside the imaging sessions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are right‑handed, native English‑speaking adults who are either healthy (ages 18–49) or have a history of cerebellar stroke (age 18+), meet MRI safety requirements, and pass a hearing test.

Not a fit: People who have MRI contraindications, significant hearing loss, non‑right‑handedness, or active psychotic disorders are unlikely to qualify and therefore are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could improve understanding of how the cerebellum contributes to speech control and guide better rehabilitation approaches after cerebellar stroke.

How similar studies have performed: Previous EEG and fMRI work has identified related speech and auditory‑motor patterns, but combining ultra‑high field 7T imaging with intensive within‑subject sampling in cerebellar stroke patients is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Cohort 1 (neurotypical adults):

* Age 18-49
* Right-handed
* Native English speaker

Cohort 2 (people with cerebellar lesions):

* Age 18 or older
* Right-handed
* Native English speaker
* History of cerebellar stroke

Cohort 3 (controls matched to Cohort 2)

* Age 18 or older
* Right-handed
* Native English speaker

Exclusion Criteria:

Cohort 1 (neurotypical adults):

* Presence of MRI risk factors: metal and/or electromagnetic devices (e.g., pacemakers, neurostimulators) in the body, previous shrapnel injuries, use of an intrauterine device containing metal, claustrophobia, pregnant or possibly pregnant
* History of neurological / neurodegenerative disease or severe brain injury (e.g., stroke or severe traumatic brain injury)
* Hearing loss, defined by pure tone thresholds \>25 decibels (dB) hearing level (HL) at octave frequencies between 250-8000 Hz
* Clinical diagnosis and/or treatment for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
* Clinical diagnosis and/or treatment for neurocognitive disorders (e.g., dementia, delirium)
* Presence of a severe and unmanaged, clinically diagnosed attention disorder
* Clinically diagnosed with or treated for a speech, language, or hearing disorder
* Head circumference greater than 60cm or weight greater than 300 pounds
* History of severe claustrophobia
* Currently pregnant

Cohort 2 (people with cerebellar lesions):

* Presence of MRI risk factors: metal and/or electromagnetic devices (e.g., pacemakers, neurostimulators) in the body, previous shrapnel injuries, use of an intrauterine device containing metal, claustrophobia, pregnant or possibly pregnant
* History of neurological / neurodegenerative disease or severe brain injury other than stroke
* Hearing loss, defined by pure tone thresholds \>50 dB HL at octave frequencies between 250-4000 Hz
* Clinical diagnosis and/or treatment for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
* Clinical diagnosis and/or treatment for neurocognitive disorders (e.g., dementia, delirium)
* Presence of a severe and unmanaged, clinically diagnosed attention disorder
* Head circumference greater than 60cm or weight greater than 300 pounds
* History of severe claustrophobia
* Currently pregnant

Cohort 3 (controls matched to Cohort 2):

* Presence of MRI risk factors: metal and/or electromagnetic devices (e.g., pacemakers, neurostimulators) in the body, previous shrapnel injuries, use of an intrauterine device containing metal, claustrophobia, pregnant or possibly pregnant
* History of neurological / neurodegenerative disease or severe brain injury (e.g., stroke or severe traumatic brain injury)
* Hearing loss, defined by pure tone thresholds \>50 dB HL at octave frequencies between 250-4000 Hz
* Clinical diagnosis and/or treatment for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
* Clinical diagnosis and/or treatment for neurocognitive disorders (e.g., dementia, delirium)
* Presence of a severe and unmanaged, clinically diagnosed attention disorder
* Clinically diagnosed with or treated for a speech, language, or hearing disorder
* Head circumference greater than 60cm or weight greater than 300 pounds
* History of severe claustrophobia
* Currently pregnant

Where this trial is running

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jason W Bohland, Ph.D. — University of Pittsburgh
• Study coordinator: Jason W Bohland, Ph.D.

Conditions: Stroke, Cerebellum, fmri, speech production, cerebellum, auditory-motor integration, speech motor control, neuroimaging