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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Understanding motivation in Parkinson's patients using neurophysiology

Official title: Understanding Motivation in Parkinson's Patients Through Neurophysiology

Run by University of California, San Francisco · NCT05065151 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing how a brain device affects motivation and decision-making in people with Parkinson's disease while they do tasks that involve rewards.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment70 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of California, San Francisco
Academic / other
Locations1 site (San Francisco, California)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 30, 2021
Main results expectedDecember 1, 2030
Study endsDecember 1, 2030
Registry record updatedJune 5, 2026
Trial IDNCT05065151 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or dystonia who have a Medtronic Percept or RC+S DBS device implanted.

Probably not a fit

Patients with severe cognitive impairments or those with a MOCA score below 20 may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates how motivation and decision-making are influenced in patients with Parkinson's disease through the use of Medtronic's Percept deep brain stimulation (DBS) device. Participants will engage in reward-based decision-making tasks while their neural activity is recorded, both in clinical and home settings. The study aims to assess the effects of DBS on motivation by comparing outcomes under different stimulation conditions, while participants continue their regular dopaminergic medications. The findings could provide insights into non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's and inform future adaptive DBS algorithms.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of motivation in Parkinson's patients and lead to improved treatment strategies for managing non-motor symptoms.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on DBS and motivation, this specific approach combining neurophysiology with behavioral tasks is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Has Parkinson's Disease or Dystonia
* Has Medtronic Percept or RC+S DBS device implanted in either GPI or STN
* Has DBS device implanted either bilaterally or unilaterally
* Male or female
* More than 1 month post-DBS surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe cognitive impairments
* Has MOCA score below 20
* Pregnancy
* Age less than 18 years old

Where it's running

  • University of California San Francisco
    San Francisco, California, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Simon J Little, MBBS, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
  • Study coordinator: Sarah Wang, PhD
  • Email: Sarah.Wang@ucsf.edu
  • Phone: 415-353-7885

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Parkinson Disease 395Deep Brain Stimulation 144Motivation 85University of California, San Francisco 3127
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.