Deep Brain Stimulation in Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Summary
The goals of this project are 1) to determine the incidence of neurological voice disorders in patients with dystonia and essential tremor undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS), 2) investigate the neuroimaging and intracranial neurophysiology correlates of voice dysfunction in these subjects, and subsequently 3) determine the effects of DBS on voice function.
Description
Loss of voice control, which is critical for conveying effective spoken communication, is often a significant feature in patients with movement disorders, such as dystonia and essential tremor. Voice dysfunction, however, has been overshadowed clinically by a focus on limb motor symptoms. For example, deep brain stimulation (DBS) effectively reduces limb dystonia and tremor in these patients, but the modulation of voice symptoms by DBS has been vastly understudied. It is assumed that the production and modulation of voice are regulated by the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical network in a loop ar…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion 1. Clinical indications to proceed with DBS implantation, as determined by the clinical multidisciplinary movement disorders board, including: a) definitive diagnosis of essential tremor or dystonia, b) medically refractory disease, c) adequate performance on neuropsychological evaluation as determined by a licensed clinical neuropsychologist. 2. The ability to comply with test directions, complete pre-operative task training, and provide informed consent. 3. Age 18-80 years. Exclusion 1\. Inability to understand or perform the task outlined in the protocol during a pre-surgery tr…
Interventions
- ProcedureDeep Brain Stimulation
Clinically indicated DBS treatment for dystonia or tremor with simultaneous research electrocorticography (ECoG).
Location
- Massachusetts General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, University of UtahBoston, Massachusetts