An observational study in Tics and Functional Tics, sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Observational
Background:
Tics are involuntary movements and vocalizations. Some tics are organic: They are related to diagnosed disorders. Sometimes tics have other causes, such as problems with how the brain and body send and receive messages. These are called functional tics. It can be difficult to tell the difference between these 2 types of tics. Doctors need to know more so they can make more accurate diagnoses.
Objective:
To learn more about the difference between functional and organic tics.
Eligibility:
Adults aged 18 to 80 years who have a tic that causes involuntary movements. Healthy volunteers with no tics are also needed.
Design:
Participants will have one 4-hour clinic visit. The visit may be done in 1 or 2 days. Participants will refrain from consuming alcohol or caffeine before the visit. They may have a physical exam.
Participants will wear two types of sensors:
Electromyography (EMG): Adhesive disks with sensors will be attached to the skin above some muscles. These disks will record electricity in the muscles as the participant moves.
Electroencephalography (EEG): Sensors will be placed on the participant s scalp. The sensors may be adhered directly, or the participant may wear an electrode cap. The sensors will detect brain waves.
Participants will rest while seated in a chair. Their involuntary tics will be monitored with the EMG and EEG. Then they will be asked to make movements to mimic their tics. Healthy volunteers will also rest; then they will be asked to perform movements that mimic tics.
Participants will have their blink reflex tested. EMG sensors will be placed on the muscles near the eyes. Electrical pulses will be used to stimulate blinking.
Participants will answer questionnaires about their tics and their health....
Study Description:
The purpose of the protocol is to explore the physiological difference between patients with tics and functional tics.
Objectives:
Primary Objective: To determine if there are differences in cortical excitability before tics in patients with tics compared to functional tics.
Secondary Objectives: N.A.
Exploratory Objectives: To determine if there are differences in cortical and subcortical excitability before tics in patients with tics compared to functional tics.
Endpoints:
Primary Endpoint: This is a hypothesis-driven study. The primary outcome measure is the beta power of EEG signal before the tics at
the electrode over the vertex.
Secondary Endpoints: N.A.
Other exploratory outcome measures include EEG signal power across different frequency bands and Bereitschaftspotential at various electrodes with different movements. Blink reflex and pre-pulse inhibition will also be measured in patients with tics and functional tics and healthy controls under different conditions.
65 studies on the registry are indexed under Tics; 11 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 75 is above the median of 45 across 12 observational studies indexed under Tics.
Browse Tics studies →National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the lead sponsor of 601 studies on the registry; 56 are open to participants now.
Of its 18 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (44%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Three groups with up to 25 subjects in each group. Two groups of patients (18-80 years old) with tics and functional tics, and another group of healthy controls.
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
Inclusion criteria for patients with functional tics or tics
- Diagnosed with functional motor tics or motor tics
Inclusion criteria for healthy controls
- Have no neurological or psychiatric disorders established by history and physical/neurological examination
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
neurophysiological testing session.**
Low Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) score \< 9 (maximum 36) with low willingness for tics (patient groups only, not applicable in healthy volunteers).
Note: 1 standard alcoholic drink is 0.6 ounce (14 grams) of pure alcohol.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Individuals with tics as the phenomenology of functional movement disorder. The functional tics convey a condition of tics in which the primary pathophysiological processes are alterations in functioning of brain networks rather than abnormalities of brain structures.
Participants without tics or other neurological or active psychiatric disorders.
A tic is a sudden, brief and repetitive motor movement or vocalization that is not rhythmic and involves discrete muscle groups.
Cortical excitability as determined by beta power at the vertex
To determine that the cortical excitability excitability before functional tics are different from those before other tics.
Time frame: 2 days
Plan to share: Undecided
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for Aug 2034, 92 months later.
Start moved 32 times since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026: Sep 2026 → Nov 2026, last on Nov 10, 2026.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) →