StrokePhase 1/2NCT04830163
Brain State-dependent PCMS in Chronic Stroke
A Phase 1/2 study testing Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) in people with Stroke, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
After stroke, people often have difficulty using their hands. Combined brain and nerve stimulation can strengthen the neural pathways that control hand function. In this study, we will deliver combined brain and nerve stimulation during specific time windows that increase activation of neural pathways underlying hand… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to Jul 2031
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- History of stroke > 6 months ago
- Presence of residual upper extremity hemiparesis
- Willingness to participate
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score < 66
- Mini Mental State Exam score > 24
- Discernible and reliable motor-evoked potential (MEP) elicited following single-pulse TMS to the lesioned hemisphere
Who cannot join
- History of neurological disease other than stroke
- Presence of contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), including: history of adverse reactions to TMS or PNS metal in head, eyes, neck, chest/trunk, or arms, including but not limited to shrapnel, surgical clips, fragments from metalworking, fragments from welding, implanted device, history of frequent and severe headaches or migraines, immediate family history of seizure or epilepsy, personal history of seizure or epilepsy, current, suspected, or planned pregnancy, current or recent (within the last 3 months) use of medications acting on the central nervous system other than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including but not limited to antipsychotic drugs, benzodiazepines, prescription stimulants.
- Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score ≥ 66 (66 is the maximum on this scale)
- Mini Mental State Exam score <= 24
- No discernible and reliable MEP elicited following single-pulse TMS to the lesioned hemisphere
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, 78712
Sara Hussain, 512-232-2686, sara.hussain@austin.utexas.edu
About this study
Official title: Upregulating Corticospinal Function After Stroke Using Brain State-dependent Paired Corticomotoneuronal Stimulation
After stroke, people often have difficulty using their hands. Combined brain and nerve stimulation can strengthen the neural pathways that control hand function. In this study, we will deliver combined brain and nerve stimulation during specific time windows that increase activation of neural pathways underlying hand function. We will compare the effects of combined brain and nerve stimulation during these optimal time windows to the effects of combined brain and nerve stimulation applied during random time windows on post-stroke hand function.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS)
- Keywords
- chronic, movement
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke, Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS)Combination product
Paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) involves delivering precisely timed pairs of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) so that the neuronal activity evoked by such stimulation arrives synchronously at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses. This synchronous arrival is postulated to cause long-term potentiation via spike timing-dependent plasticity, which then improves corticospinal transmission and hand function. In this study, paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) will be applied during specific brain states that reflect increased recruitment of motoneurons via the corticospinal tract. This increased recruitment is expected to enhance the beneficial effects of PCMS on human hand function after stroke.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| PCMS during brain states reflecting strong corticospinal transmission | Experimental | Not described Receives: Combination Product: Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) |
| PCMS during random brain states | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Combination Product: Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximum hand force output
This will be measured using maximum voluntary contractions of the stroke-affected first dorsal interosseous hand muscle during pinching actions.
Measured: up to 1 hour after intervention
Maximum hand muscle activation
This will be measured using electromyography recordings of the stroke-affected first dorsal interosseous muscle during maximum voluntary contractions during pinching actions
Measured: up to 1 hour after intervention
Secondary outcomes (2)
Amplitude of motor evoked potentials
This will be measured as the peak-to-peak amplitude of motor-evoked potentials recorded from the stroke-affected first dorsal interosseous muscle
Measured: up to 1 hour after intervention
Time to complete the 9-hole peg test
This will be measured as the time needed to complete the task using the stroke-affected hand.
Measured: up to 1 hour after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Apr 2021
- Study start1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJul 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at Austin
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04830163
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00000896_Exp3
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 31 Mar 2021
- Last updated
- 6 Dec 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Individual participant data may be shared using an open-access data repository. No personally-identifiable information will be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Dec 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Upregulating Corticospinal Function After Stroke Using Brain State-dependent Paired Corticomotoneuronal Stimulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04830163
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00000896_Exp3
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Keywords
- chronic, movement
- Phase
- Phase 1/2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at AustinUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Apr 2021 (actual)
- 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.
After stroke, people often have difficulty using their hands. Combined brain and nerve stimulation can strengthen the neural pathways that control hand function. In this study, we will deliver combined brain and nerve stimulation during specific time windows that increase activation of neural pathways underlying hand function. We will compare the effects of combined brain and nerve stimulation during these optimal time windows to the effects of combined brain and nerve stimulation applied during random time windows on post-stroke hand function.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| PCMS during brain states reflecting strong corticospinal transmission | Experimental | Combination Product: Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) |
| PCMS during random brain states | Active comparator | Combination Product: Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- History of stroke > 6 months ago
- Presence of residual upper extremity hemiparesis
- Willingness to participate
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score < 66
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- History of neurological disease other than stroke
- Presence of contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), including: history of adverse reactions to TMS or PNS metal in head, eyes, neck, chest/trunk, or arms, including but not limited to shrapnel, surgical clips, fragments from metalworking, fragments from welding, implanted device, history of frequent and severe headaches or migraines, immediate family history of seizure or epilepsy, personal history of seizure or epilepsy, current, suspected, or planned pregnancy, current or recent (within the last 3 months) use of medications acting on the central nervous system other than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including but not limited to antipsychotic drugs, benzodiazepines, prescription stimulants.
- Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score ≥ 66 (66 is the maximum on this scale)
- Mini Mental State Exam score <= 24
- No discernible and reliable MEP elicited following single-pulse TMS to the lesioned hemisphere
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS)Paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) involves delivering precisely timed pairs of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) so that the neuronal activity evoked by such stimulation arrives synchronously at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses. This synchronous arrival is postulated to cause long-term potentiation via spike timing-dependent plasticity, which then improves corticospinal transmission and hand function. In this study, paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) will be applied during specific brain states that reflect increased recruitment of motoneurons via the corticospinal tract. This increased recruitment is expected to enhance the beneficial effects of PCMS on human hand function after stroke. | Combination product | PCMS during brain states reflecting strong corticospinal transmission, PCMS during random brain states |
Primary outcome
Maximum hand force output
Time frame: up to 1 hour after intervention
This will be measured using maximum voluntary contractions of the stroke-affected first dorsal interosseous hand muscle during pinching actions.
Maximum hand muscle activation
Time frame: up to 1 hour after intervention
This will be measured using electromyography recordings of the stroke-affected first dorsal interosseous muscle during maximum voluntary contractions during pinching actions
2 secondary outcomes
Amplitude of motor evoked potentials
Time frame: up to 1 hour after intervention
Time to complete the 9-hole peg test
Time frame: up to 1 hour after intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Dec 2024.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Individual participant data may be shared using an open-access data repository. No personally-identifiable information will be shared.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1/2 study testing Brain state-dependent paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) in people with Stroke, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Dec 2024. 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.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximum hand force output (time frame: up to 1 hour after intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 6 Dec 2024; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 29 Oct 2026.