Search Results Within Category "Neurology"
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and psychophysical studies of sensory perception and cognition
The purpose of this study is (1) to understand how the brain processes sensory information and (2) how this is affected by factors like blindness or synesthesia. In addition to behavioral testing, the study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which enables us to take pictures of the brain while you are doing a task, using an instrument called an MRI scanner.
Participants will perform simple behavioral tasks either stand-alone or while being scanned; they may also complete questionnaires or rating scales.
Amount varies depending on the study
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
No other sensory deficits
Adults who experience synesthesia
Must pass MRI safety screen (if applicable)
Minors under the age of 18
Individuals who fail the MRI safety screen (may still do behavioral studies)
Interactions between the olfactory, auditory, visual, and trigeminal systems
The purpose of this study is to use fMRI to identify and characterize the olfactory, auditory, visual and trigeminal-related brain networks. This research will then be use to enhance human health by laying the foundation to develop sensitive biomarkers to identify people who are at risk of developing brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, where olfactory deficits are known preclinical symptoms.
Clear sinuses
Pregnant or lactating
Presence of a pacemaker, aneurysm clips or any metal in the body
A history of welding, grinding, and or claustrophobia
Neurological disease (stroke, tumor, Parkinson's) or Psychiatric disorder (bipolar, schizophrenia, etc)
The role of middle temporal and frontoparietal areas in limb motor control
The goal of this research is to understand the role of motion-processing areas on limb motor control. We will be using behavioral studies and combining that with functional brain imaging, EEG, and non-invasive brain stimulation using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS has been used in thousands of studies and is a very safe method to understand brain function for eye hand coordination.
There will be three visits. Participants will under go brain scanning. They will perform eye-hand coordination tasks by grabbing a robotic manipulandum. During the eye-hand coordination tasks, participants' brain activity will be measured using electroencephalography (EEG) and muscle activity using surface electromyography (EMG). Researchers will also apply transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to temporarily inhibit and excite different brain areas. TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells
50
Participants should be right-hand dominant individuals
Participants should be able to sit upright in a chair for long periods (up to 2 and a half hours) with rest
Participants should be able to grasp and move objects with both hands
Participants should be able to lie still and perform behavioral tasks inside a magnetic scanner for up to 60 minutes
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, any form of arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, or previous injury or surgery to the bones or joints in your neck, upper back, arms or hands in the last six months)
Eye or vision problems (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, a detached retina, or macular degeneration)
Individuals with metallic implants will be excluded from the study. The metallic implant will make participation in a magnetic scanner impossible
Medication that could make the participant drowsy or tired during the experiment
Defining the role of slow eye movements on limb motor control
The purpose of the study is to examine how slow eye movements called smooth-pursuit eye movements, contribute to hand-eye coordination. Participants will grasp a robotic manipulandum and using the manipulandum interact with virtual visual stimuli in an augmented-reality environment.
Should have normal vision or corrected vision
Participants should be able to sit upright on a chair for upto 2 hours
Participants should be able to grasp and move objects with their right hand
Participants should be able to provide informed consent
History of musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, trigger finger, mallet finger, fracture, or previous injury to the bones or joints in your neck, upper back, arms or hands in the last six months)
eye or vision problems (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, a detached retina or macular degeneration)
Cognitive impairment such that informed consent cannot be obtained.
Medication that could make the participant either drowsy or tired. Individuals who get tired with 2 hours of mild to moderate exercise are also not eligible to participate.
Examining Cortical Lateralization of Motor Learning through Transcranial Stimulation
The aim of this study is to understand how brain stimulation affects learning of a novel task on a virtual reality system. Participation involves playing virtual reality games during non-invasive brain stimulation.
Single in person visit involving the application of a non-invasive brain stimulation technique during a reaching task in a 2D virtual reality environment.
25
18-40 years old (healthy young)
18-80 years old (stroke patient)
neurological disease
movement disorder
major psychiatric diagnosis
orthopedic damage to the arms
An Intermediate Expanded Access Protocol with CNM-Au8for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis for NIH Grant RFA-NS-23-012
The main purpose of this research study is to provide access to the investigational product, CNM-Au8 at a dose of 30mg per day, to up to 180 people living with ALS. The study wants to find out if CNM-Au8 is safe to take without causing too many side effects and can help people with ALS.
Participants will have a visit to see if they qualify to participate. Following this visit, they will return to the clinic for visits every 12 weeks and these visits will continue in 144-week periods until the treatment plan is discontinued. Participants will have one last visit 4 weeks after their last dose of the investigational medicine.
Male or female aged 18 years or greater at time of ALS diagnosis
Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of ALS as determined by a neurologist specializing in ALS
Participant is able to consume up to 240mL of investigational drug without substantial dsyhpagia or can take the investigational drug through a gastronomy tube
Participant has a history of clinical significant or unstable medical condition that may interfere with assessment of safety or compromise the study objectives
Based on the investigator’s judgment, participants who may have difficulty complying with the protocol and/or any study procedures.
Within the prior 90-days the participant has had clinically significant findings on standard hepatic, hematologic, or renal safety assays.
Participant is currently involved in another placebo-controlled clinical trial (note: concomitant therapy with other investigational products is permitted with certain restrictions—see concomitant medications section below).
Implementation of a Transcutaneous CO2 Monitoring (ITCOM) Study in ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) leads to respiratory failure due to chronic hypoventilation. The gold standard for measuring hypoventilationrequires an arterial blood gas, which is impractical in the outpatient setting due to invasiveness, pain, and need for specialized equipment. Recently, the Penn State Health Hershey ALS Clinic has implemented transcutaneous CO2 (TCO2) monitoring as standard of care clinical assessment. The overall goals of this study are to gather critical preliminary data for stakeholder-driven refinement of a TCO2 monitoring protocol within a busy ALS clinic and identify how TCO2 may enhance our understanding of standard respiratory measurements.
Participants will complete a survey related to their experience having their CO2 reading performed in the ALS Clinic.
$20 will be paid for every survey completed, for a maximum possible payment of $80 per person.
18 years of age or older.
Seated forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 100% predicted normal.
Use of any type of non-invasive ventilation, except in the case of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea
Use of diaphragm pacer
Use of a tracheostomy
In hospice or in active transition to hospice
A Second Intermediate Expanded Access Protocol for AmyotrophicLateral Sclerosis with CNM-Au8
The main purpose of this research study is to provide access to the investigational product, CNM-Au8 at a dose of 30mg per day, to up to 300 people living with ALS. The study wants to find out if CNM-Au8 is safe to take without causing too many side effects and can help people with ALS.
Participants will have a visit to see if they qualify to participate. Following this visit, they will return to the clinic for visits every 12 weeks and these visits will continue in 48-week periods until the treatment plan is discontinued. Participants will have one last visit 4 weeks after their last dose of the investigational medicine.
Able to understand and give written informed consent.
Male or female participants aged 18 years or greater (inclusive) at the time of ALS diagnosis.
Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of ALS per Gold Coast criteria as determined by a neurologist specializing in ALS (e.g., the site principal investigator or sub-investigator for this study).
Participant is able to daily consume up to 240 mL of the investigational drug suspension without substantial dysphagia, OR can intake the investigational product through a gastrostomy tube.
Participant has a history of any clinically significant or unstable medical condition (other than ALS) that may interfere with assessment of safety or compromise the study objectives.
Based on the investigator’s judgment, participants who may have difficulty complying with the protocol and/or any study procedures.
Within the prior 90-days the participant has had clinically significant findings on standard hepatic, hematologic, or renal safety assays.
Participant is currently involved in another placebo-controlled clinical trial (note: concomitant therapy with other investigational products is permitted with certain restrictions—see concomitant medications section below).
Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment andDiagnostics (ALZ-NET)
ALZ-NET will follow and record information about people’s health, safety, brain scans, and long-term health outcomes during their regular memory care.
At specific time points throughout your participation in ALZ-NET, your memory care provider or designated staff will transfer data about your health, diagnosis, treatment, and brain imaging that are related to your memory concerns to the ALZ-NET operations center.These time points include at a 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, and 24-month timepoint, and once per year after that until your participation ends.
Patient or patient’s legally authorized representative (LAR) (e.g., spouse or legal guardian) has the ability to understand and provide signed and dated informed consent
Patient has a diagnosis of MCI or dementia with clinical suspicion of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
If treatment is initiated at time of consent, the patient meets appropriate label requirements and treatment follows appropriate use recommendations for novel FDA-approved AD therapy/therapies
Patient’s treating clinician has made the decision to provide clinical care or treatment prior to patient consent and independently of the purpose of ALZ-NET
Augmented Reality: Perceptions, Performance, and Language Enhancement
This is a single-center feasibility study assessing the Apple Vision Pro as a device for augmentative and alternative communication in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis who are experiencing impaired communication.Participants in this study will visit the study site once for approximately 1.5 hours. During the session, participants will complete questionnaires about their medical history, undergo an eye exam, and use an augmented reality headset that tracks the motion of the eyes to communicate.
Participants and their caregivers will complete a single visit at the Hershey Medical Center lasting approximately 1.5 hours. During this time, they will undergo an eye exam, answer a set of questionnaires, and use an augmented reality (AR) headset that tracks eye-gaze to communicate.
$25
Use of augmentative and alternative communication device device (including but not limited to: eye tracking, switch control, scanning interface, written or typed communication).
Score of 1 or 0 on the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R, Cedarbaum1999) speech sub-score and/or score of 2, 1, or 0 ALSFRS-R handwriting sub-score.
Continuous use of face-mask noninvasive ventilator that would impair comfortable wearing of AVP headset for at least 60 minutes
History of visual impairment incompatible with device use
History of medical diagnoses that could be exacerbated by use of the augmented reality headset: uncontrolled migraines or chronic headache, dizziness, vertigo, or other inner ear conditions, dry eyes, skin allergies, seizures
Diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia or other severe cognitive impairment that is sufficient, in the opinion of the study neurologist, to interfere with the subject’s ability to provide informed consent and reliably complete questionnaires
Motion in action: Integrating multisensory inputs for posture stabilization and complex action acquisition
This study looks at how people use their eyes and body to interact with moving objects while standing up. Participants will stand at a robotic device and try to stop virtual objects moving at different speeds on a screen, similar to catching or blocking a ball. The research will help us understand how the brain coordinates sensory information to maintain balance.
Participants will be required to stand and interact with virtual objects by grasping a robotic manipulandum. A session will last approximately 120 minutes.
$30 per session
Right-hand dominant
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (20/20)
Able to stand for up to 2 hours
Able to grasp and move objects with both hands
Any history of musculoskeletal disorders
Eye or vision problems (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, a detached retina or macular degeneration)
Cognitive impairment such that informed consent cannot be obtained, or that participant would not be safe with the protocol
Medication that could make the participant drowsy or tired during the experiment
Home telemonitoring of bulbar function by acoustic measurement of swallowing and speech sounds in ALS
Most individuals with ALS experience changes in speech and swallowing over the course of the disease. In some, these are their initial indication of ALS. Identifying these changes, which may be rapid in some individuals, is complicated by the recent acceleration of virtual care delivery. This is a longitudinal home study of ALS patients to assess speech and swallowing function through use of smartphone application. The overall hypothesis is that this monitoring protocol can be used in a way that, 1) is satisfactory to the patient, 2) performs at least as well as standard clinical measures of dysarthria and dysphagia, and 3) resolves the development of emergence of speech and swallowing pathologies in ALS. Patients enrolling in this study will participate for approximately 24 weeks, during which they will have swallowing and speech tests performed, complete surveys, and perform audio recordings of speech on their cellphone. Healthy controls will be enrolled to judge the intelligibility of speech samples provided by patients in the study.
Patients enrolling in this study will participate for approximately 24 weeks, during which they will have swallowing and speech tests performed, complete surveys, and perform audio recordings of speech on a cellphone.
340
Possess a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Have symptom onset within the last 6 years
Demonstrate changes in speech or swallowing as a result of ALS.
Possess a smartphone capable of running the study application or have home wireless internet service capable of transmitting study data from a study-issued smartphone.
Possess abnormal speech or swallowing processes due to a condition independent of their ALS diagnosis
Identifying the Cognitive, Psychological, and Neuroimaging Signatures of Head Trauma in Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
We aim to investigate the impact exposure to head trauma in intimate partner violence (IPV) has on cognitive, psychological, and neural processes. Physical trauma as an outcome of IPV impacts an estimated 10 million people in the United States each year, with up to 90% of women exposed to IPV reporting episodes of abuse with head trauma. Women exposed to IPV are at a high-risk for developing mental illness and impaired cognitive function, which seems to be compounded in those with exposure to head trauma (HT).
The study includes interviews to discuss your any experiences you have had with physical abuse and head trauma, as well as current and past mental health history. Then you will complete questionnaires to see how you feel about your mental and physical health, followed by tests to assess your thinking abilities. Finally you will complete a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session to examine brain structure and function. All of the testing should take approximately 6 hours to complete.
$90
Aged 18-60
Has previously experienced intimate partner violence
Currently experiencing intimate partner violence (within the past 3 months)
Non-English speaker
Neurological and developmental disorders
Concussion-Prognosis
Using micro-RNA in saliva coupled with survey data as a prognostic tool with the ability to guide clinical management of concussions
During their baseline visit participants will complete a saliva swab, surveys, balance test and brief neurocognitive test.Day 7, participants will complete a saliva swab and 2 surveys.Day 30, participants will complete a saliva swab and 4 surveys.The baseline visit is the only in-person visit, day 7 and day 30 are done remotely.All surveys are completed online and day 7 and day 30 saliva swabs are sent home with the participants and sent back in a prepaid mailer on day 30.
$40
Diagnosis of concussion
POSTA: Protocol for Oral Somatosensation and Texture Appreciation
The purpose of this study is to collect normative data related to orofacial (lip/tongue) somatosensation (touch sensation) in healthy adults across the adult lifespan. This data will be compared to a select clinical population, those with Parkinson's disease.
There will be one data collection session lasting approximately 90 minutes. Participants may be invited back for a second session approximately 4 weeks later to repeat the testing sessionDuring the sessions, participants will answer a series of questions about their eating and drinking preferences, they will be asked to provide a speech sample by repeating a series of syllables, words, and sentences, as well as providing a spontaneous speech sample.All participants will be asked to complete a series of sensory tests where small plastic objects are placed on their lip, tongue, and finger tip. Participants will be asked when they feel the pressure/texture and when they do not.
English-speaking
Hearing and cognition within functional limits to complete speaking tasks
Clinical Group: Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD)
have an active lesion to the lower face (ie cold sore, fever blister, etc)
have had a dental visit in the last month that involved general or local anesthesia to the oral region
exhibit symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia secondary to anti-psychotic drug use
report current or recovering from a viral illness like Bell’s Palsy or Shingles
Linking olfactory deficits to memory impairment and AD neurodegeneration
The purpose of this voluntary research study is to find out more about changes in the brain as we age. This study is trying to determine if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), genetic variations, amyloid positron emissions tomography (PET), neuropsychological testing, and smell tests can be used to evaluate memory loss and cognitive impairment.
You will be asked to come to the research site once a year for 5 years.Annual (and semi-annual) procedures include completing smell tests, neuropsychological tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One-time procedures include provide blood sample, amyloid PET scan (if indicated), and optional lumbar puncture.
Up to $250 a year
Smell impairment
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Currently smoke
Have claustrophobia
Mindfulness, Neuroscience and Daily Life Study
This study will examine whether a guided drawing activity helps to reduce anxiety in young adults. This will add to our understanding of how drawing can be used to manage anxiety symptoms and bolster emotion regulation.
This study will require two in person lab visits that take approximately 2 hours each and separated by four weeks where participants will have their brain and heart rate activity monitored while completing mindfulness activities. After the first in person visit, participants will complete two 30 minute audio/questionnaire sessions a week for four weeks (8 total) before returning to the lab for the second visit where participants can expect to complete a similar experience as their first in person visit. Two weeks after the second in person lab visit, participants will complete a Qualtrics questionnaire that will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Total overall participation of approximately 8 to 8 1/2 hours.
$175
Able to read, speak and write in English
Not able to read, speak and write in English
Modeling Transition Speeds in Elderly Human Walking
This study will involve elderly humans walking on a treadmill transitioning through prechosen speeds.
There will be one, two hour in person visit. Participants will change into specific lab provided clothing for study and reflective stickers will be placed on participants by the researcher. Participants will then get on the treadmill and will walk at prescribed constant speeds for about 5 minutes total. Then participants will perform 10 speed transition trials each of which lasts about 4 minutes.
$15
Can continuously walk for up to 4 minutes
Be able to follow verbal instructions
High BMI (>30)
Emotion Regulation and Mother-Infant Synchrony
The aim of this study is to better understand emotion regulation in infants by measuring brain, behavior, and mother-infant relational mechanisms. We plan to collect simultaneous brain activation in mothers and infants while they engage in a face-to-face interaction. We will then test associations between individual brain activation, mother-infant brain synchrony, and infant emotion regulation behaviors.
Participants complete questionnaires online, then come in for 1 in-person visit. Mother and baby complete a play and a neutral task while fNIRS is collected from them simultaneously.
40
Infants born 3 weeks within their due date.
Infants of a birth weight > 2500 g.
Infants with NO serious medical complications.
English-speaking families.
Infants who experienced any serious medical complications.
Infants who were born > 3 weeks before the indicated gestational period.
Families who do not understand and do not speak English
AIDP
The purpose of this study is to test the performance of a web-based system for automated review of MRI images across 21 sites in the Parkinson Study Group. Each site will perform imaging, clinical scales, diagnosis, and will upload the data to the web-based software tool. The clinical diagnosis will be blinded to the diagnostic algorithm and the imaging diagnosis will be compared to the movement disorders trained neurologist diagnosis.
Participants will attend two study visits that will include questionnaires, a physical exam and motor exams and an MRI (during one of the visits).
300
Diagnosed with a Parkinsonism (PD, MSA or PSP)
Predicting Concussion Outcomes with Salivary miRNA
The purpose of this study is to identify changes in salivary micro ribosomal nucleic acid (miRNA) expression that are predictive of symptom duration and severity following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in children. The primary endpoints of this study are as follows:1)Characterization of brain-related miRNA in the saliva of 250 children with mTBI and 200 age- and gender-matched controls between the ages of five and twenty-three years.2)Identification of a set of salivary miRNAs that is predictive of duration and severity of mTBI symptoms.
Saliva collection and surveys at baseline, 7 days, and 30 Days
$20
Seen in the Penn State Pediatric Concussion Clinic within 2 weeks of most recent concussion
Periodontal disease
Ongoing seizure disorder, or other neurologic disorder
Drug or alcohol dependency
clinical diagnosis of severe TBI
A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, comparing the efficacy and safety of remibrutinib versus teriflunomide in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis, followed by extended treatment with open-label remibrutinib
The main purpose of the study is to find out if patients treated with remibrutinib may experience fewer MS relapses (also called clinical attacks, exacerbations or flare ups) than patients treated with teriflunomide (also known as Aubagio®). Teriflunomide is an approved medication for the treatment of relapsing MS
This study requires you to take a medication. This study consists of a core part (21 in person visits over 2.5 years) and an extension part (18 in person visits over 5 years). Study activities consist of blood draws for labs every 3 months, vitals (blood pressure readings, heart rate, height and weight), physical exam, electrocardiogram (ECG), clinical outcome assessments, a participant diary that will be filled out during treatment, and an optional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sub-study. All study activities will be done at the Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center in the neurology clinic at 30 Hope Drive and clinical research center (CRC) in the main hospital.
$3960
Diagnosed with remitting relapsing multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with a documented relapse within the previous year, two documented relapses within previous two years, or one documented Gd enhancing lesion on an MRI scan within the previous year.
Must be neurologically stable for 1 month prior to joining the study (including no MS relapse in this time period)
Must agree to use contraception for both male and female participants
Must be able to sign informed consent or have a legally authorized representative to sign.
MS disease duration of more than 10 years
Any history or presence of significant concomitant illness.
Treatment with some common MS medications such as cladribine, cyclophosphamide, remibrutinib or other BTKi, alemtuzumab
Optional sub-study: contraindication for MRI: any metal in the body or history of metal fragments, claustrophobia, known allergy to contrast medium.
Vivistim Registry for Paired VNS Therapy (GRASP)
The purpose of the Vivistim Registry for Paired VNS Therapy (GRASP) isto gather real-world information on patients with arm and hand deficits post-stroke who are considering Vivistim System treatment. Before and afterVivistim System implant, patient data will be collected and reportedthroughout the therapy process.
The purpose of this study is to follow individuals that plan to be implanted with the MicroTransponder Vivistim® System. We will be collecting data at various time points over 3 years. Data collection includes questionnaires about arm movement, quality of life, productivity, and use of healthcare services. This study lasts for 3 years, with 6 total visits. One visit is prior to being implanted and 5 are post-implant. Visits can be done via telephone or in person. Questionnaires and Therapy data will be collected at each visit.
$600.00
You have suffered a stroke
You have moderate to severe upper limb deficits
You plan to be implanted with the MicroTransponder Vivistim® System.
You do not have upper limb deficits.
You are currently enrolled in an investigational study.
You have previously been implanted with a Vivistim® System.