Neurofeedback From the Supplementary Motor Area for Tourette Syndrome
Yale University
Summary
This is a clinical trial where adolescents aged 10-16 years old with Tourette Syndrome (or chronic tic disorder) are randomized to receive either real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback targeting the supplementary motor area (for the experimental intervention) or real-time fMRI neurofeedback (NF) from a control region (for the control intervention).
Description
The training portion of this study involves three fMRI NF sessions, with six NF scans per session. NF scans alternate between up-regulate and down-regulate blocks in which participants are cued to increase or decrease activity in the target region while receiving feedback on activity in the region at the bottom of the screen in the form of a line graph. The experimental group receives feedback from the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the control group receives feedback from a control region of the brain.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 10–16 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Boys and girls, 10 to 16 years of age * A current diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorder (CTD), with active tics that can be executed without head movement, and a YGTSS score of at least 13 (for TS participants) or at least 12 (for CTD participants) * Currently stable medication treatment and no planned changes in medication for the duration of the study. * Family residence within 2 hours of Yale Medical Center with ability and willingness to attend assessment and fMRI visits. * Children and their parents are expected to be able to speak and understa…
Interventions
- OtherNeurofeedback from the SMA
Feedback is provided regarding activity in the SMA and participant attempts to control SMA activity using the feedback as a training signal
- OtherNeurofeedback from control region
Feedback is provided regarding activity in a control region and participant attempts to control activity in that region using the feedback as a training signal.
Location
- Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, Connecticut