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RecruitingNCT03233399Updated Sep 25, 2026

Modulating Movement Intention Via Cortical Stimulation

An interventional study of Sham TMS3 stimulation and rTMS of left or right angular gyrus (AG) or frontal cortex (FC) in Seizures, Seizure Disorder and Psychogenic Movement Disorder, sponsored by NYU Langone Health. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.

Sponsored by NYU Langone Health · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this protocol is to learn about movement intention and volition. To improve such knowledge, investigators will conduct sub-studies using multiple non-invasive methodologies. These results could provide preliminary data for subsequent studies evaluating local and global efficacy of plasticity-inducing treatments for PMD symptoms.

Read the detailed description

This study will:

  • Explore effects of TMS and tDCS on movement intention.
  • Discern the neural activity underlying modulation of movement intention with neuroimaging recording.
  • Identify brain stimulation's effect in patients with psychogenic tremor and non-epileptic seizures.
  • Technical development of new experimental paradigms and data analysis methods.
  • Data collection for hypotheses development.
02

Conditions studied

  • Seizures
  • Seizure Disorder
  • Psychogenic Movement Disorder

Keywords

  • Electroencephalography
  • Magnetoencephalography
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

(Healthy Controls)

  • Fluent in English

(Patients with PMD or PNES):

  • Diagnosis of PMD/PNES confirmed by a neurologist with expertise in movement disorders.
  • Per the treating neurologist, subject is unlikely to require treatment and/or dosage changes for 3-6 months following screening

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any history of a significant neurological disorder, which may interfere with the interpretation of study data, as determined by the PI
  • Chronic or progressive medical condition
  • Any history of traumatic brain injury or significant head trauma
  • Currently meets criteria for substance abuse or dependence
  • History of any psychotic disorder or other psychiatric condition which may interfere with data interpretation
  • Pregnancy
  • Metal or devices in the head, including neurostimulators or metal foreign bodies
  • Any other implanted metal device, including pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator, VNS.
  • Any other ferromagnetic substance in the body that may increase study risk (including dental prosthetics, etc.).
  • Taking tricyclic antidepressant or antiepileptic medications or CNS active drugs under "strong potential hazard" list in Rossi et al., 2009
  • Current diagnosis of any inflammatory or autoimmune disorder within last 6 months

PMD and PNES Patients

  • Any history of traumatic brain injury or significant head trauma
  • Diagnosis of organic seizure disorder, including febrile seizures and tonic-clonic seizures;
  • Neurological disorder other than PMD and PNES including stroke, fainting spells or syncope of unknown cause(s);
  • Major or unstable medical illness, especially any current diagnosis of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders within last 6 months
  • Metal or devices in the head, including neurostimulators or metal foreign bodies
  • Taking tricyclic antidepressant medications or CNS active drugs under "strong potential hazard" list in Rossi et al., 2009;
  • Diagnosis of dementia, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≤24;
  • Recurrent visual hallucinations, within the past 6 months;
  • History of significant uncontrollable movements of the head;
  • Any clinically significant abnormality on vital signs
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Healthy Patients

    All healthy volunteers will complete the healthy volunteer form, MRI safety screening form, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA).

    Device: Sham TMS3 stimulation · Device: rTMS of left or right angular gyrus (AG) or frontal cortex (FC) · Device: Anodal tDCS of left or right AG or FC

  • Active comparator
    PMD/PNES patients

    PMD and PNES subjects will be referred by the treating

    Device: Sham TMS3 stimulation · Device: rTMS of left or right angular gyrus (AG) or frontal cortex (FC) · Device: Anodal tDCS of left or right AG or FC

Interventions

  • DeviceSham TMS3 stimulation

    half of the subjects will receive sham stimulation first

  • DevicerTMS of left or right angular gyrus (AG) or frontal cortex (FC)

    Half of the subjects will receive active stimulation first; A subject may receive either TMS or tDCS stimulation, but not both, over the course of the sub-study.

    Also known as: 45 Minutes

  • DeviceAnodal tDCS of left or right AG or FC

    Half of the subjects will receive active stimulation first; A subject may receive either TMS or tDCS stimulation, but not both, over the course of the sub-study.

    Also known as: 30 Minutes

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in signal intensity measured using of tDCS

    as a result of altering cerebral perfusion in response to neurophysiologic stimulation

    Time frame: 30 Minutes

  2. Changes in signal intensity measured during EEG recording

    as a result of altering cerebral perfusion in response to neurophysiologic stimulation

    Time frame: 3 Hours

  3. Changes in signal intensity measured during MEG

    as a result of altering cerebral perfusion in response to neurophysiologic stimulation

    Time frame: 3 Hours

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • New York University School of Medicine
    New York, New York 10016, United States
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03233399
Lead sponsor
NYU Langone Health
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 28, 2017
Start date
Jul 20, 2017
Primary completion
May 2027 (estimated)
Completion
May 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 25, 2026

Study contacts

Nalini Jeet
Contact
Nalini.Jeet@nyulangone.org
(212) 263-0228
Biyu He, MD
principal investigator · NYU Langone Health

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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