Understanding impulsivity in Parkinson's patients with deep brain stimulation

Frontosubthalamic Network Dynamics and Their Modulation During Impulse Control and Decision Making in Parkinson's Disease

Not applicable Interventional University of Oxford · NCT06485986

This study is testing how deep brain stimulation affects impulsivity in people with Parkinson's disease to see if different settings can help reduce impulsive behavior.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Oxford Academic / other
Locations1 site (Oxford)
Trial IDNCT06485986 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This experimental study aims to investigate the mechanisms behind increased impulsivity in some Parkinson's disease patients who undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus. Participants will engage in decision-making tasks while their DBS devices are toggled on and off, allowing researchers to observe the effects on brain activity through magnetoencephalography (MEG). The study seeks to identify the network effects of DBS and explore alternative stimulation settings that may reduce impulsivity. By analyzing these interactions, the research hopes to provide insights into optimizing DBS for better patient outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who have undergone DBS and may or may not have impulse control disorders.

Not a fit: Patients with extreme language barriers, other neurological disorders, or those enrolled in conflicting clinical studies may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved DBS settings that minimize impulsivity in Parkinson's disease patients.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on DBS in Parkinson's disease, this specific focus on impulsivity and network effects is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
* Male or Female, aged 18 years or above.
* Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who have required implanted STN electrodes for DBS in addition to their dopamine replacement therapy.
* Diagnosed with or without (control group) impulse control disorders since the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.
* Participant willing and able to sit in the MEG scanner and follow instructions.
* Participant willing and able to delay their morning dose of dopamine replacement therapy for up to four hours (180 minutes experimental time + journey time).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with extreme language barrier that cannot understand the purpose or instructions of the study despite the use of an interpreter.
* Other implanted medical devices that may cause artefacts during MEG recordings.
* Participants with a history of co-morbid neurological disorders.
* Participant enrolled onto another clinical trial related to a neurological disorder (including Parkinson's disease) that may interfere with the results of this study.
* Participants who are unable to sit still in a MEG scanner for the duration of this experiment e.g. patients with chronic pain or osteoarthritis. This will be assessed with their primary clinician

Where this trial is running

Oxford

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Parkinson DiseaseImpulse Control DisorderDeep brain stimulation
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.