How the brain signals reward and risk in Parkinson's disease
Neurophysiology of Reward Signaling in Parkinson's Disease
This project will record brain signals during deep brain stimulation surgery to see how reward-seeking and risk-taking work in people with Parkinson's disease who are having electrodes placed.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| Trial ID | NCT07409207 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will make intraoperative neural recordings from corticostriatal regions, including trajectories that contact the caudate, while patients undergo DBS placement under local anesthesia. Participants will perform brief tasks during surgery so investigators can link neural activity to nonmotor behaviors such as reward seeking and risk taking. The work focuses on people with Parkinson's disease (or related movement disorders) who are English-speaking and able to follow intraoperative instructions. Data come from direct neural recordings and occasional neural stimulation used as part of the protocol.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults aged 40 or older with Parkinson's disease who are scheduled for DBS under local anesthesia at Vanderbilt with a planned electrode trajectory that contacts the caudate and who can complete intraoperative testing.
Not a fit: Patients under 40, those not undergoing DBS at Vanderbilt, those whose electrode path will not contact the caudate, or those unable to follow intraoperative instructions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better-targeted DBS settings or new approaches to reduce problematic nonmotor symptoms like impulsivity and abnormal reward-seeking.
How similar studies have performed: Prior intraoperative recording studies have linked basal ganglia signals to motor symptoms and some studies have explored reward-related activity, but using caudate contact during DBS to study nonmotor reward signaling is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Scheduled to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery under local anesthesia at Vanderbilt University Medical Center * Planned clinical electrode trajectory that contacts caudate * Age greater than or equal to 40 * Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or other movement disorder * Able to participate in intraoperative testing * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Age less than 40 * Not able to participate in intraoperative testing (for example unable to comprehend instructions or follow directions)
Where this trial is running
Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, Tennessee, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sarah Bick — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Isabel Long, BS
- Email: isabel.long@vumc.org
- Phone: 615-421-3046
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.