Neuromodulation of Inhibitory Control in Tic Disorders

NCT05263414 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 26

Last updated 2022-03-02

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The present study aims to assess the effects of non invasive electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve via transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on cognitive functions, inhibitory and tic control in patients with tic disorders. Taking into account the role that GABA plays in inhibitory control, the presence of alteration of GABA neurotransmission in Tic disorders and the possibility to increase GABA release with tVNS, the investigators hypothesized that tVNS might improve behavioral control in Tic disorders. Moreover, as suggested by previous studies investigating the effects of tVNS in other patient populations, the investigators expected that tVNS will be safe and well tolerated. Such results would encourage the use of tVNS in Tic disorders.

Conditions

  • Tic Disorders

Interventions

DEVICE

tVNS

tVNS allows the non-invasive activation of the Vagus Nerve by delivering electrical pulses to the sensory afferent fibers of the auricular, thick-myelinated, branch of the vagus nerve in the outer ear. TVNS seems to engage the same neural pathways of invasive VNS methods and may provide a novel, bottom-up NIBS method to promote GABA release. tVNS will be performed by using a CE marked tVNS device. It consists in a programmable stimulation unit connected to two titan ear electrodes that are mounted on a gel frame, allowing to generate and transfer electric impulses from the stimulation unit to the surface of the skin, where the electrodes are applied.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • IRCCS Eugenio Medea

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
50 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-06-01
Primary Completion
2023-03-31
Completion
2023-04-30

Countries

  • Italy

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05263414 on ClinicalTrials.gov