An interventional study of control group and experimental group in Dystonia, Neurologic Disorder and NEUROSCIENCE, sponsored by IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo. Completed at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-31.
Sponsored by IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo · Not applicable, Interventional, and Screening
Dystonias represent hyperkinetic movement disorders characterized by protracted muscle contractions, such as to cause torsional movements and anomalous postures in different parts of the body. Although they occur more often in a focal form (blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, cervical dystonia, laryngeal dystonia, attitudinal cramps of the limbs) than segmental (involvement of several contiguous muscle groups, e.g. facial muscles and neck muscles), they are nevertheless capable of significantly influencing the quality of life, with consequent social and health costs. Although described as a predominantly motor disorder, the presence of non-motor symptoms in dystonias associated with alteration of the fronto-striatal circuits is increasingly recognized. Neuroimaging studies have highlighted that the striatum and, more specifically, striatal dopamine, is involved in high cognitive processes such as attention, reward-based learning and decision making. Clinical conditions associated with cortico-striatal circuit dysfunction and abnormal meso-striatal or meso-cortical dopamine transmission also appear to influence temporal estimation, delay discounting, showing an impulsive preference for immediate rewards over delayed gratification.
Based on these premises, the present project aims to evaluate the cognitive and affective aspects of dystonias, in line with neuroimaging research documenting structural and functional dysfunctions in the respective brain regions.
Dystonias represent hyperkinetic movement disorders characterized by protracted muscle contractions, such as to cause torsional movements and anomalous postures in different parts of the body. Although they occur more often in a focal form (blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, cervical dystonia, laryngeal dystonia, attitudinal cramps of the limbs) than segmental (involvement of several contiguous muscle groups, e.g. facial muscles and neck muscles), they are nevertheless capable of significantly influencing the quality of life, with consequent social and health costs. Although described as a predominantly motor disorder, the presence of non-motor symptoms in dystonias associated with alteration of the fronto-striatal circuits is increasingly recognized. Neuroimaging studies have highlighted that the striatum and, more specifically, striatal dopamine, is involved in high cognitive processes such as attention, reward-based learning and decision making. Clinical conditions associated with cortico-striatal circuit dysfunction and abnormal meso-striatal or meso-cortical dopamine transmission also appear to influence temporal estimation, delay discounting, showing an impulsive preference for immediate rewards over delayed gratification.
Based on these premises, the present project aims to evaluate the cognitive and affective aspects of dystonias, in line with neuroimaging research documenting structural and functional dysfunctions in the respective brain regions.
The study aims to investigate the neurocognitive profile in patients with dystonia. In particular, investigators will evaluate the correlation between the alterations of the subcortical areas and the cognitive and affective functions involved in the processes of evaluating risk, reward and impulsivity.
Primary Objectives:
Study of cognitive and affective functions in dystonic subjects, with particular reference to the mechanisms of reward learning, inhibitory control and impulsivity.
Secondary objectives:
Connectivity analysis of neuronal substrates related to higher order cognitive alterations
319 studies on the registry are indexed under Dystonia; 56 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 102 is above the median of 32 across 181 interventional studies indexed under Dystonia.
Browse Dystonia studies →IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo is the lead sponsor of 67 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
patients with dystonia were submitted to a neuropsychological evaluation
Behavioral: experimental group · Diagnostic Test: EEG power in alpha band
healthy patients were submitted to a neuropsychological evaluation
Behavioral: control group · Diagnostic Test: EEG power in alpha band
the investigators have to assess the neuropsychological and psychological profile with specific questionnaire that evaluated the moral index, presence of obsessive and compulsive disorders and Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate cognitive functions
the investigators have to assess the neuropsychological and psychological profile with specific questionnaire that evaluated the moral index, presence of obsessive and compulsive disorders and Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate cognitive functions
partecipants were submitted to registration of electrical activity with EEG to study the EEG power in alpha band
montreal cognitive assessment
Study of cognitive functions in dystonic subjects, with particular reference to the mechanisms of memory, attention and executive functions
Time frame: 1 hour
Beck depression inventory
Study of affective functions in dystonic subjects, with particular reference to the mechanisms of mood and evaluating the presence of depressive symptoms
Time frame: 1 hour
EEG power in alpha band
Connectivity analysis of neuronal substrates related to higher order cognitive alterations and the power of alpha band
Time frame: 1 hour
This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo