BlindnessNCT00001661
Mechanisms of Human Plasticity in the Human System
An observational study of Blindness and Cerebrovascular Accident, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the physiology associated with plasticity of the motor system. Plasticity refers to the process by which neighboring brain cells assume the responsibilities of damaged or diseased brain cells. The mechanisms behind this process are unknown. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Blindness, Cerebrovascular Accident, Spinal Cord Injury
- How many people
- 260 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Dec 1996to Mar 2002
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Must be over 18 years of age.
Must not have personal history of seizures, loss of consciousness, hypertension, psychosis, heart conditions or allergies to any of the drugs.
Women must not be nursing or pregnant.
Patients may have amputations, spinal cord injuries, blindness or large hemispheric lesions from stroke.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Official title: Mechanisms of Plasticity in the Human Motor System
The purpose of this study is to investigate the physiology associated with plasticity of the motor system. Plasticity refers to the process by which neighboring brain cells assume the responsibilities of damaged or diseased brain cells.
The mechanisms behind this process are unknown. However, researchers have several theories about how plastic changes take place. Possible explanations include the growth of new connections between brain cells and the use of previously unused connections.
Read more
Researchers plan to use transcranial magnetic stimulation and drug intervention in order to determine the mechanisms responsible for specific types of plasticity.
Previous studies have shown that certain drugs can affect the mechanisms involved in these changes. By using one drug at a time, researchers plan to evaluate the role of each of several different mechanisms in brain reorganization.
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this study is to investigate the physiology associated with plasticity of the motor system seen in a number of different circumstances. Techniques used will involve the combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and pharmacologic interventions. We propose to use drugs judged to be safe, that either potentiate GABA related intracortical inhibition, change presynaptic release of excitatory aminoacids like glutamate, or decrease the activity of the NMDA receptors (mostly antiepileptic drugs). If plastic changes expressed as larger motor maps or motor evoked potentials (MEP) to TMS are secondary to intracortical disinhibition, administration of a drug that potentiates intracortical inhibition may result in decreased plasticity and smaller motor maps or MEP. This finding would then identify intracortical disinhibition as the mechanism responsible for this type of plasticity. Similarly, if plastic changes decrease with a drug that inhibits release of excitatory aminoacids, or that antagonize the action of NMDA receptors, the mechanism underlying plasticity is likely to be mediated by modulation in the release of excitatory aminoacids or activity in NMDA-receptors.
Results from this study will then provide information about the relative involvement of intracortical disinhibition, modulation in the release of excitatory aminoacids, and role of NMDA receptors in different settings of human plasticity.
- Conditions
- Blindness, Cerebrovascular Accident, Spinal Cord Injury
- Keywords
- Plasticity, Use, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Amputation, Intracortical Inhibition
- Medical subject headings
- Blindness, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injuries
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Study startDec 1996
- Study completionMar 2002
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for BlindnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrolment
- 260 participants
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00001661
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 970048
- Other IDs
- 97-N-0048
- Status last verified
- Mar 2002
- First submitted
- 3 Nov 1999
- Last updated
- 4 Mar 2008
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Cohen LG, Bandinelli S, Findley TW, Hallett M. Motor reorganization after upper limb amputation in man. A study with focal magnetic stimulation. Brain. 1991 Feb;114 ( Pt 1B):615-27. doi: 10.1093/brain/114.1.615.
PubMed 2004259Ziemann U, Lonnecker S, Steinhoff BJ, Paulus W. Effects of antiepileptic drugs on motor cortex excitability in humans: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Ann Neurol. 1996 Sep;40(3):367-78. doi: 10.1002/ana.410400306.
PubMed 8797526Brasil-Neto JP, Valls-Sole J, Pascual-Leone A, Cammarota A, Amassian VE, Cracco R, Maccabee P, Cracco J, Hallett M, Cohen LG. Rapid modulation of human cortical motor outputs following ischaemic nerve block. Brain. 1993 Jun;116 ( Pt 3):511-25. doi: 10.1093/brain/116.3.511.
PubMed 8513390
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Mar 2008. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Mechanisms of Plasticity in the Human Motor System
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00001661
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 970048
- Conditions
- Blindness, Cerebrovascular Accident, Spinal Cord Injury
- Keywords
- Plasticity, Use, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Amputation, Intracortical Inhibition
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 260 participants
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- Dec 1996
- Study completion
- Mar 2002
- First posted
- 4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the physiology associated with plasticity of the motor system. Plasticity refers to the process by which neighboring brain cells assume the responsibilities of damaged or diseased brain cells.
The mechanisms behind this process are unknown. However, researchers have several theories about how plastic changes take place. Possible explanations include the growth of new connections between brain cells and the use of previously unused connections.
Researchers plan to use transcranial magnetic stimulation and drug intervention in order to determine the mechanisms responsible for specific types of plasticity.
Previous studies have shown that certain drugs can affect the mechanisms involved in these changes. By using one drug at a time, researchers plan to evaluate the role of each of several different mechanisms in brain reorganization.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to investigate the physiology associated with plasticity of the motor system seen in a number of different circumstances. Techniques used will involve the combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and pharmacologic interventions. We propose to use drugs judged to be safe, that either potentiate GABA related intracortical inhibition, change presynaptic release of excitatory aminoacids like glutamate, or decrease the activity of the NMDA receptors (mostly antiepileptic drugs). If plastic changes expressed as larger motor maps or motor evoked potentials (MEP) to TMS are secondary to intracortical disinhibition, administration of a drug that potentiates intracortical inhibition may result in decreased plasticity and smaller motor maps or MEP. This finding would then identify intracortical disinhibition as the mechanism responsible for this type of plasticity. Similarly, if plastic changes decrease with a drug that inhibits release of excitatory aminoacids, or that antagonize the action of NMDA receptors, the mechanism underlying plasticity is likely to be mediated by modulation in the release of excitatory aminoacids or activity in NMDA-receptors.
Results from this study will then provide information about the relative involvement of intracortical disinhibition, modulation in the release of excitatory aminoacids, and role of NMDA receptors in different settings of human plasticity.
Study design
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Not reported in the source record.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Mar 2008.
- Background: PubMed 2004259Cohen LG, Bandinelli S, Findley TW, Hallett M. Motor reorganization after upper limb amputation in man. A study with focal magnetic stimulation. Brain. 1991 Feb;114 ( Pt 1B):615-27. doi: 10.1093/brain/114.1.615.
- Background: PubMed 8797526Ziemann U, Lonnecker S, Steinhoff BJ, Paulus W. Effects of antiepileptic drugs on motor cortex excitability in humans: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Ann Neurol. 1996 Sep;40(3):367-78. doi: 10.1002/ana.410400306.
- Background: PubMed 8513390Brasil-Neto JP, Valls-Sole J, Pascual-Leone A, Cammarota A, Amassian VE, Cracco R, Maccabee P, Cracco J, Hallett M, Cohen LG. Rapid modulation of human cortical motor outputs following ischaemic nerve block. Brain. 1993 Jun;116 ( Pt 3):511-25. doi: 10.1093/brain/116.3.511.
Related trials for Blindness
Active, not recruiting
Improving Visual Field Deficits With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation
Visual Field Defect, Peripheral, Stroke
Recruiting
Ameliorating Stroke-induced Hemianopia Via Multisensory Training
Hemianopia, Homonymous, Cortical Blindness, Unspecified Side of Brain
Not yet recruiting
Multisensory Rehabilitation of Vision Loss After Cortical Damage
Cortical Blindness
Not yet recruiting
Remapping Text in Sentence and Word Tasks to Aid Reading With Central Vision Loss
Macular Degeneration, Central Visual Impairment
RecruitingObservational study
Rare Disease Patient Registry & Natural History Study - Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford
Rare Disorders, Undiagnosed Disorders
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Blindness and Cerebrovascular Accident, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2008. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00001661, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2008; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.